Mashaal also stressed that Hamas would not accept international peacekeepers or a deployment of Arab forces, and called on Fatah not to extend the power struggle to the West Bank.

Senior Abbas aide Ahmed Abdel Rahman rejected Mashaal's overtures. Rahman told Al-Jazeera that Fatah would not hold talks with "murderers."

Hamas members show off in PA Mahmoud Abbas's Gaza City office.
Photo: AP

Earlier Friday, Hamas condemned the appointment of political independent Salam Fayyad as the new Palestinian Authority prime minister as a "coup."

Abbas announced the appointment in the West Bank, a day after Hamas defeated forces loyal to Abbas' Fatah movement and took control of the Gaza Strip. Fayyad, an economist who is well-respected by the international community, will replace Haniyeh, who was fired by Abbas on Thursday.

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Ismail Ridwan accused Abbas of taking "hasty and illegal steps" meant to please Israel and the United States. He said the appointment will divide the Palestinians.

"This is a political coup and it has serious consequences," he said.

Abbas's office said Friday that a new emergency PA government would be sworn in later in the day, but followed it minutes later with an announcement that the event had been postponed.

There was no immediate explanation for the confusion.