Top leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Ismail Haneya told Xinhua Saturday that Hamas favors a political partnership in a new cabinet.

In an interview with Xinhua, Haneya said that his movement has been in consultations with other political powers on forming the new cabinet based on a joint political partnership, though the cabinet shape has not been decided yet.

"When we ask for political partnership to form the cabinet, this does not mean that we are in a weak position or fear of anything, but only because we are convinced that we should depend on the principle of partnership and unity," said Haneya.

He stressed that his movement can never be less capable than other movements of ruling the coming stage, and maybe more capable.

Haneya revealed that he had contacted by phone the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Secretary General Ahmed Sadat, adding that Sadat affirmed that the PFLP would welcome a political partnership with Hamas.

Sadat is currently kept in a Palestinian prison in Jericho, where his group earned three seats in the Jan. 25 elections.

Haneya said that his movement would continue wide scale consultations with other parliamentarian parties represented in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including previously dominant Fatah movement.

On Fatah's opposition to joining the cabinet, Haneya dismissed that it was only in the media news.

"We have not officially heard of this from the Fatah leaders personally," said the Hamas leader.
Haneya said earlier in the day that Hamas leaders will meet President Mahmoud Abbas later on Saturday on the cabinet formation.

It will be the first meeting between Abbas and the movement, which won the elections with an overwhelming majority of 74 seats in a 132-seat new parliament.

Commenting on a future rule in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Haneya said his movement is confident based on its good experience in managing educational, health and charity institutions.

"I believe we had presented honorable results in these fields. We managed to succeed in the past and will succeed in the future," said Haneya.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)