GAZA: Thousands pour into streets of Gaza to mark second anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death as Palestinian factions continue talks on unity government posts

Several thousands marched in Gaza on Sunday (November 12) to mark the second anniversary of the death of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, as Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met with Fatah officials to discuss a unity government. Waving Palestinian and al-Aqsa brigades flags, several thousands of members of Fatah marched through the streets of the southern Gaza town of Rafah and Gaza city, vowing to follow in the footsteps of Arafat and demanding an investigation into his death. Participants demanded the files detailing the cause of death of Arafat be reopened and an investigation into his death be revisited. The death of Arafat, boycotted by Washington and Israel as an alleged orchestrator of bloodshed, favoured the emergence of the moderate Palestinian leader Abbas. The anniversary rallies came after a week in which rancour soared over bloody Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. On the political front, Prime Minister and Hamas leader Haniyeh held talks with rival Fatah faction representatives over allocating cabinet seats in a unity government that Palestinians hope will be able to bring about an easing of Western sanctions. "The future government will implement the legitimacy of elections, the political partnership, and the national unity. This government will permit the lifting of the siege and decrease the suffering of the Palestinian people," Haniyeh told reporters at the start of his meeting with Fatah officials. "We are sure that this government will have all the respect and appreciate, first from the Palestinian people, second from the Arab and Muslim countries and third from the World," said Ahmed Qurei of Fatah, who used to head the Palestinian government. Haniyeh of Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah have both said they hope a new cabinet could be in place within two to three weeks after months of intermittent talks and internal violence that has raised fears of civil war. Senior leaders from both factions began talks in Haniyeh's office in the Gaza Strip and are expected to last several days. Hamas took office in March after stunning the long-dominant and more moderate Fatah to win elections in January. But Hamas has struggled to govern under Western sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe over the group's refusal to recognise Israel. It has also been locked in a bitter power struggle with Abbas, who was elected separately in early 2005.

ITN Source | November 12, 2006

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