The Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement has appointed members to represent itself in committees that will settle controversial issues with rival Fatah movement, a Hamas lawmaker said on Saturday.

"We have handed the names of our representatives to the Egyptian side," Salah al-Bardaweel, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), said three days ahead a scheduled meeting of the committees in Cairo.

The most senior representative would be Moussa Abu Marzouq, Hamas' deputy politburo chief, who will join the committee in charge of reforming the Palestinian Liberation Organization. In case of his absence, Gaza-based Hamas strongman Mahmoud Zahar will replace Abu Marzouq, according to al-Bardaweel.

Local officials and lawmakers of Hamas will join the remaining committees of unity government, elections, security and reconciliation.

On Feb. 26, Egypt succeeded in launching the inter-Palestinian dialogue aims at uniting Hamas and Fatah and healing the political split between Gaza Strip and West Bank.

The schism widened in 2007 after Hamas routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah and seized control of Gaza.

Fatah have sent the names of its representatives to Egypt.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)