Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Saturday that he has submitted his resignation letter to President Mahmoud Abbas to pave the way for forming a new national unity government.

Fayyad made the announcement in a statement released by his office, saying his move was to reinforce efforts to make reconciliation talks in Cairo due on March 10 a success.

It will take effect "as soon as a unity government is formed with a time limit to the end of March," said the statement.

Fayyad was appointed by Abbas as prime minister in June 2007 following Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip. Hamas controls Gaza with the sacked Hamas-led unity administration that does not recognize Fayyad's cabinet.

Representatives of Hamas and Fatah will meet again in Cairo on March 10 to continue dialogue, in which they will discuss outstanding files including the deals on a unity government, security, elections, reconciliation and the reform of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

Fayyad praised the Egyptian efforts that led to the first talks between Hamas and Fatah since the Gaza Strip and West Bank were politically divided in 2007 after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces in Gaza.

"We see the optimistic atmosphere following the first round of dialogue a valuable chance that must be used to end the state of split and boost the real unity and reconciliation," Fayyad said.

Fatah and Hamas, along with other Palestinian factions, met in Cairo on Feb. 26 to launch a reconciliation process aimed at forming a national unity government following Israel's massive offensive against the Gaza Strip in December and January.

They agreed to set up five committees to oversee the formation of a new unity government that would supervise Gaza reconstruction and prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections due in January 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)