Abbas swears in new Hamas-free government

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday swore in a new government comprised mainly of members of his Fatah Party, but without representation of his bitter rivals from Hamas. In Gaza, Hamas official Mushir al-Masri rejected the new Cabinet. "This government is illegal, unconstitutional and came with the blessing of the Zionist and American administrations, and it poses an obstacle on the way to national reconciliation talks," he said.