 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas moved quickly to cement his rule in the West Bank on Friday, as major political fallout from Hamas' military rout of Fatah in Gaza continued.
He replaced the Hamas prime minster, Ismail Haniyeh, with Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, an internationally respected economist, and a new moderate government was to be formed later in the day.
Haniyeh has refused to stand down as Hamas is refusing to recognize the new emergency government to be headed by Fayyad.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti confirmed the developing arrangements.
"Yes, it is true that President Abbas has asked Dr Fayyad to form the new emergency cabinet. I have just talked to him. He is trying to make consultations to form his cabinet."
Many of the new ministers in the cabinet are expected to be independents.
A Hamas spokesman Fauzi Barhoum declared the new emergency Palestinian government illegal.
"The emergency government by the leadership of the Palestinian Authority President Abbas, and charging Salam Fayyad is an illegal government, we will not recognise it or deal with it."
However, Abbas received immediate pledges of support from Israel, the US, Egypt, Jordan, the UN and Saudi Arabia.
The battle for Gaza ended on Thursday night when Hamas forces took the last Fatah stronghold, the seaside office complex of Abbas.
Gaza is now controlled by Hamas, while the West Bank is dominated by Fatah.
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