Haneya mostly likely to be named PM: Hamas
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-02-16 20:37

Ismail Haneya, a top Hamas leader, is likely to be named as Palestinian Prime Minister, a Palestinian radio reported on Thursday.

Mahmoud Al-Ramhi, a Hamas leader elected into the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), told Voice of Palestine that Hamas has reached consensus on choosing Haneya as Prime Minister.

Although a final decision has yet to be made, all signs indicated that Haneya would be the best choice, he said.

"We are still discussing about the ministers' names in the cabinet and the discussions with other factions had not been finished till the moment," he added.

Hamas also chose its leader Azeez Dweik to head the new parliament, the official said.

Meanwhile, on Germany's support for a Turkish proposal on mediation between Israel and Hamas, al-Ramhi said the group welcomed the Turkish mediation under any circumstances and in anytime.

Earlier, Germany said it supported the Turkish suggestion to mediate between Israel and Hamas in case Hamas recognizes the state of Israel and denounces violence as well as accepts the roadmap peace plan.

Hamas' exiled political leader Khaled Mashaal arrived in Ankaraon Thursday for talks with Turkish leaders, according to NTV.

Hamas, which does not recognize Israel, won a landslide victory in the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections.

Mashaal and other officials from the group are conducting a regional and international tour to rally support before the group forms a new Palestinian cabinet.

On Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged Hamas to renounce violence. "Since Hamas won a democratic election, from now on it must act in a democratic way," said Gul.

Turkey, a predominantly Muslim but secular country, has close defense ties with Israel. Turkey is one of the first countries to recognize the Jewish state in 1948.