Hamas, Fatah Reach Accord

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal signed a reconciliation accord Thursday that includes a government of national unity.

Abbas asked Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh agreed to begin forming the government, WAFA reported. The two men have been negotiating in Mecca, in talks arranged by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

The Palestinian Authority has been in a state of increasing chaos since Hamas won a parliamentary majority in January 2006. With the United States and Israel cutting off aid and tax receipts, the government has been unable to pay employees and infighting between Hamas and Fatah, the party led by Abbas, has become deadly.

During negotiations, Hamas issued a statement accusing Fatah gunmen of trying to undermine the talks by attempting an assassination on Minister for Refugee Affairs Atef Udwan, the Jerusalem Post reported.