Palestinian talks called off

Palestinian officials say a high-profile meeting between the leaders of the rival Fatah and Hamas movements has been called off.

Tuesday’s meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal had been expected to name the prime minister over an emerging reconciliation government.

But officials from both sides acknowledge there are still disagreements over who the prime minister will be.

They say the meeting has been postponed indefinitely.

The decision is a setback to last month’s unity deal between Hamas and Fatah. At that time, they pledged to end a four-year rift that has left the Palestinians with rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.