Rival Palestinian groups agree to postpone power transfer in Gaza

GAZA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Islamic Hamas movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah Party agreed Wednesday to postpone power transfer to the Palestinian consensus government until Dec. 10.

Senior Fatah leader Fayez Abu Eita made the announcement in an official statement following a meeting at the office of Hamas chief in the Gaza Strip Yehya Sinwar that lasted for more than six hours.

Abu Eita, Hamas leader Sallah el-Bardaweel and two senior Egyptian officials went outside Sinwar's office, where Abu Eita read the short news briefing before journalists and reporters. No questions were allowed.

"Fatah and Hamas movements are asking Egypt to postpone the finalization of transferring power to the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip, which was scheduled on Dec. 1 to Dec. 10," said the statement.

It added that the postponement was requested "to finalize the arrangements in order to guarantee an achievement in the steps of making national reconciliation."

Deputy Prime Minister Zeyad Abu Amro, Sinwar, leaders of the factions, including Fatah and Hamas and members of the Egyptian delegation attended the meeting at the office of Sinwar.

Differences between the two rival groups had mounted over the past few days, as a high-ranking Egyptian delegation has been spending efforts in the Gaza Strip for three days to overcome differences between the two rival movements.

The major disagreements between the two groups were on the question of thousands of employees were appointed by Hamas movement after the movement's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip mid of 2007.

On Tuesday, the Palestinian consensus cabinet called on all the Palestinian employees, who were asked to refrain from working under Hamas command, to get back to work.

Earlier on Wednesday, dozens of employees headed to various ministries to take their positions they left since 2007, but Hamas employees union prevented them from getting into the offices of the ministries.

Hamas slammed the government's decision and said it is a violation of the reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo between the two groups on Oct. 12, and a violation to all other reconciliation understandings reached in 2011. Enditem