Spain expresses support for Abbas's decisions

The Spanish government on Friday voiced its support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's decision to sack the unity government and to name a new prime minister.

Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it maintains contact with Abbas and the presidency of European Union to coordinate actions supportive of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)'s constitutional order.

The preservation and protection of the constitutional institutions is a necessary condition for realization of the Palestinian national plan, it added.

Abbas on Friday chose Salam Fayyad, a political independent who was former finance minister of the Hamas-led unity government, as new prime minister, to replace Ismail Haneya.

Abbas dissolved the unity government and declared a state of emergency on the Palestinian territories after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip following days of deadly infighting between Hamas and Abbas-led Fatah.

The deposed prime minister and his Hamas movement have rejected Abbas's decision to dissolve the unity government.

Source: Xinhua