The Fatah movement is set to hold talks with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which won the January legislative elections, later on Thursday over the formation of a new Palestinian government, a senior Fatah leader said.

Senior Fatah member and lawmaker Azzam al-Ahmed told local radio "Voice of Palestine" that he would meet top Gaza-based Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar, who was also newly elected to the parliament, later in the day to discuss the formation of a national unity government.

Al-Ahmed said the coming meeting was "based on an agreement reached between the two sides 10 days ago to meet again on Thursday."

Al-Ahmed said that Fatah expected Hamas to give a formal written statement, clarifying Hamas' position on its future administrative plans.

He said that if Hamas adopted changes to make its administrative plans close to Fatah's planks, then Fatah would "start immediately preparing for the formation of a national coalition government."

Defeating the long dominant Fatah movement in the Jan. 25 polls, Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, has been tasked with the formation of a new government.

Disputes between Hamas and Fatah flared up during a recent parliament session when Hamas lawmakers voted to revoke decisions by the previous Fatah-controlled legislature to grant additional powers to President Mahmoud Abbas, who now leads Fatah.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)