Haniya says ready to resign for peace

GAZA CITY: Ismail Haniya, the prime minister of the Islamist Hamas movement in power in the Gaza Strip, said on Saturday he was "ready to resign."

"I am prepared to tender my resignation as part of the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah," the secular party of Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmud Abbas.

"This agreement is very important and should boost efforts to end the divisions and encourage unity among Palestinians," he added.

On Wednesday, the rival Palestinian groups reached an "understanding" in Cairo to set up a transitional unity government and hold elections.

The Palestinian factions were on the verge of agreeing a deal in 2009 that would have led to a transitional government ahead of elections when Hamas pulled out.