CAIRO (AP) — A Palestinian negotiator says unity talks between Hamas and Fatah have broken off until next week without agreement over a new Palestinian prime minister.
Fatah negotiator Azzam al-Ahmad says talks will resume in a week. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal are expected to attend.
Naming a premier is one of the main disputes.
Hamas officials in the talks said Tuesday that the sides agreed that the current Western-backed prime minister, Salam Fayyad, will leave his post. Al-Ahmad denied that.
Hamas sees Fayyad as too close to the West. Fatah believes the U.S.-educated economist is the best candidate to ease concerns that donor money might go to Hamas. Israel, the U.S. and EU label Hamas a terror group.
