Palestinian negotiators postponed the unity talks again on Tuesday since differences between the two main factions, Fatah and Hamas, maintained, especially on forming a unity government.

The two-day talks, did not touch on the unity government, a core issue in the Hamas-Fatah talks that started on Monday, though some "substantial progress" has been achieved.

Azzam al-Ahmed, a member of Fatah's delegation told Xinhua "The fourth round of talks in Cairo achieved substantial progress regarding some issues," which included elections and security forces.

Though describing that the atmosphere was "very positive" during the two-day intensive debates, he conceded that the issue of forming a unity government has not been discussed in this round of dialogue.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official said Tuesday that the inter-Palestinian dialogue has been postponed until May 16 and 17.

The decision to postpone the dialogue "was made to enable the two movements to have more consultations with their leadership over new Egyptian ideas and proposals," Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Hamas negotiator, was quoted by the Bethlehem-based Maan news agency as saying.

He said the security and the reform of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were the two most complicated issues that dominated the current round of the Egypt-sponsored dialogue in the past two days.

Egypt has been mediating between the two rival movements to end their differences on substantial issues related to forming a unity government so as to end the current rift between Gaza and the West Bank.

Al-Zahar revealed that discussions on the security issue centered on a proposal of merging all security forces in Gaza and the West Bank and forming professional security forces.

He said the conferees agreed that the PLO "is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and the reference for any national activity."

"It was agreed to form a temporary joint national committee headed by President Mahmoud Abbas with its mission on reforming the Palestinian National Council (PNC)," said al-Ahmad.

He also said "If the two movements fail to agree on forming the transitional unity government, we will take the Egyptian proposal on forming a factional committee to implement what will be agreed upon."

Meanwhile, a senior Islamic Hamas official Tuesday said his movement has shown a big flexibility towards all the options to succeed the ongoing inter-Palestinian reconciliation dialogue in Cairo.

Mushir el-Masri, a Gaza Hamas lawmaker said in a statement that his movement opposes "the conditions set by the international Quartet and laying down resistance."

The International Quartet, which includes the United States, the United Nations, Russia and the European Union, has linked the recognition of Palestinian government with the recognition of Israel and the condemnation of violence.

Egypt has said that it will continue to sponsor the dialogue and create proper atmosphere to end the current rift between Fatah and Hamas.

Meanwhile, Palestinian media has earlier reported that there isa possibility to form a broader government headed by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad if the national dialogue in Egypt fails.

Senior Palestinian sources revealed on conditions of anonymity that a government will be announced before Abbas heads for talks in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama on May 28.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2009)