China on Monday stated that it gave full backing to the legitimate power held by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), whilst urging Palestinian forces to halt the violence.

 

"The Chinese government respects the legitimate status of President Abbas and the Palestinian National Authority," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang.

 

Qin said China "strongly urges Palestinian factions to set aside their conflicts and solve their concerns through dialogue and consultations in order to safeguard the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people."

 

The 12th Palestinian government, created in a state of emergency, was sworn in before President Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, replacing the previous unity government led by Hamas.

 

Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government on Thursday following attacks by Hamas militia on Palestinian Authority facilities in Gaza, a move deemed by Abbas to have been a coup d'etat.

 

Independent Salam Fayyad was then asked to set up the emergency government one day after Abbas' decision to dismantle the unity government, which took office on March 17.

 

However, Hamas rejected Abbas' decision to sack the unity government, considering the new authority as "illegitimate."

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2007)