Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas says talks have begun on forming a national unity government, prompting warnings from Hamas against acting unilaterally

Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas says talks have begun on forming a national unity government, prompting warnings from Hamas against acting unilaterally.

Abbas made the announcement on Saturday, the last day of the two-week period following caretaker prime minister Salam Fayyad’s resignation from the authority on April 13.

Speaking to reporters in Italy, visiting Abbas urged all Palestinian factions to cooperate so that he could form a unity government "composed of two independent personalities," and fix a date for elections.

The leader of the West Bank-based Fatah party pledged that all consultations will take place “in accordance with the Doha Declaration and the timetable set up by the Palestinian leadership in meetings in Cairo on the reactivation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.”

But rival Hamas urged that any Palestinian government must be formed in accordance with the reconciliation agreement and in consultation with the Gaza-based resistance movement.

"There has been no consultation with Hamas on this matter so far," AFP cited Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri, who warned against "any unilateral steps.”