Report: Hamas expects to form new gov't by March

Hamas expects to form a coalition government with the rival Fatah movement by early March, a senior official said on Saturday. Parliament speaker Ahmed Baher told a news conference he expected Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to present a new coalition government for the legislature's approval "by the first week of March." Haniyeh's Hamas-led government resigned nine days ago to make way for a unity government with Fatah, in an effort to halt clashes between the two that have left more than 130 dead since May.