U.S. reserves judgment on Palestinian govt: Rice

[Eugene]

(Reuters)

U.S. reserves judgment on Palestinian govt: Rice

Fri Feb 16, 5:27 AM ET

DUBAI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denied in comments aired
on Friday that the United States had decided to boycott all ministers of a Palestinian
unity government now being formed.

In an interview with Al Arabiya television, Rice said Washington would reserve judgment
on the new Palestinian government until it was formed but hoped it would respect the
wishes of the Quartet of Middle East mediators that it accept existing interim peace
accords and recognize Israel.

-snip-

It was not immediately possible to obtain the comments in their original English form.

A senior Palestinian official and diplomats said on Thursday the United States would
boycott all Palestinian unity government ministers, including those who were not
members of Hamas, until it was satisfied the government had met the demands of the
Quartet -- the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070216/ts_nm/palestinians_rice_dc_1