Abbas denies resignation over disagreement with Hamas

The chairman of the Palestinian authority Mahmoud Abbas denied that he had threatened to resign the government of the Islamic resistance movement (Hamas) to be presided over by Prime Minister-designate Ismael Henya.

In press statements he made following his meeting with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm al-Sheikh he said he notified Henya to the need that Hamas will be fair and balanced in its policy so as to avoid the ghost of international and local isolation for the Palestinian people.

Abbas stressed he will not oppose bringing the Palestinian government for a confidence vote in the parliament despite the fact he did not approve of its government program.

He added "any Israeli government should deal with us and not to ignore the existence of the Palestinian side and also should not ignore the international legitimacy."

It is decided that the government which was formed by Hamas will be presented before the Palestinian legislative council today to win confidence.

In Kuwait, the movement called on the Arabs to increase financial support estimated at $170 million monthly in order to meet the needs of the Palestinians.

The chairman of Hamas' political bureau Khaled Mashaal explained during his visit to Kuwait that "monthly spending according to the figures at the former government is $170 million monthly of which $115 million are for employees salaries."