Hamas suspends efforts to form unity gov't

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday said efforts to form a national unity government have been suspended after Israeli fire killed 18 people in Gaza Strip. Haniyeh made the announcement at an emergency meeting of his Cabinet. "In a protest of this awful massacre, the prime minister's office is announcing the suspension of discussions to form a national unity government," Haniyeh said. Haniyeh's Hamas movement has been in talks with the moderate President Mahmoud Abbas to form a coalition government in a bid to get international economic sanctions lifted.