Spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government said on Saturday Prime Minister Ismail Haneya and President Mahmoud Abbas were likely to meet this week in Gaza.

Spokesman Ghazi Hamad told reporters that Abbas was expected to arrive in Gaza before Thursday and discuss with Haneya about the forming of the proposed government of national unity.

Abbas and Haneya reached an initial agreement on forming the coalition government based on the Prisoners' Document of National Accordance, which calls for establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, to replace the incumbent Hamas-led one.

The move was seen as an effort to get the Palestinian territory out of an economic and political crisis triggered by the West and Israel's cutting off of direct aid due to the ruling Hamas' refusal to meet the conditions of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and respecting previous agreements signed with Israel.

The talks was suspended last month, when Abbas left for New York to attend meetings of UN General Assembly.

Speaking before Hamas supporters on Friday, Haneya called on Abbas to come to Gaza to continue the talks, which to some extent lapsed into a stalemate as Hamas remains adamant on its stance of refusing to recognize Israel.

Hamad said that only a serious meeting between the two leaders could put an end to the internal crisis in the Palestinian territories and subsequent clashes between members of Fatah and Hamas.

Hamas also called for a meeting of reconciliation between the rival movements of Fatah and Hamas.

Tension between Fatah and Hamas mounted after talks on the unity government stalled as Fatah accused Hamas of reneging on previous agreements.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)