Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, defeated in parliament elections, will decide later Thursday whether to join a Hamas-led government or serve in the opposition, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath said Thursday. Shaath was quoted as saying that Fatah leaders would meet at 5 p.m. (1500 gmt) to decide on the party's future. Earlier Thursday, Fatah legislator Saeb Erekat said after a meeting with Abbas that the party has already decided to serve in the opposition. "Hamas will be asked to form the new government," Erekat said. "We in Fatah will not join them. We will be a loyal opposition and rebuild the party."
