Hamas and Fatah fail to agree govt deal

Negotiators from Islamic Hamas and Fatah, the party it defeated in January’s Palestinian elections, failed to make progress in talks today about a new government, both sides said, and further consultations appeared unlikely.

Hamas can form a government by itself because it won an absolute majority in the parliament in the elections. However, it has been negotiating with other factions to broaden its base, partly to deflect international criticism of its refusal to renounce violence or accept Israel.