(21 February 2006 - RV) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formerly asked Hamas Prime
Minister-Designate Ismail Haniyeh today to form a government for the country. Abbas
handed a letter of accreditation to Haniyeh which formally appointed him to put together
an administration - Haniyeh will have up to five weeks to do so. Expert observer
of religion and politics in the Holy Land, Franciscan Father David Jaeger, told Catherine
Smibert whether there is any truth to Hamas' intention to construct a broadbased new
Palestinian Administration.