Independent Cabinet minister quits Hamas gov't

A businessman serving as a Cabinet minister on Sunday announced his resignation from the Hamas-led government, already struggling to cope with a teachers strike and international sanctions. Communications Minister Jamal Khodari informed a local news agency on Sunday that he resigned, but he refused to explain his reasons. Palestinian government spokesman Ghazi Hamad confirmed that Khodari handed in his resignation, but Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had not accepted it. Khodari, a wealthy Gaza businessman who had Hamas support, announced earlier that he was placing his ministry under Haniyeh's supervision, to make way for a national unity government.