Hamas says in principle no problem with World Bank account

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2006

GAZA CITY (AFP) — The Hamas government said it had no problem in principle with a French proposal for a special World Bank account to channel foreign aid, but warned it would not be frozen out of paying employees.

"In principle we don't have a problem with that," finance minister Omar Abdelrazek told AFP as French President Jacques Chirac made the expected announcement in Paris, flanked by Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.

"But we have to talk about the details and preserve the rights of the ministry of finance to control and oversee all the financial procedures," Abdelrazeq added.

"It could be a solution as long as it preserves the integrity of the Palestinian financial system," the minister added.

According to Chirac's proposal, a...