Hamas official: Fayyad appointment as 'coup'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hamas on Friday condemned the appointment of political independent Salam Fayyad as the new Palestinian Authority prime minister as a "coup." In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Ismail Ridwan accused PA Chairman Mahmoud 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.