PALESTINIAN FINANCE MINISTER OMAR ABDEL-RAZEQ SAID ON SATURDAY THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BEGIN TO PAY LONG-OVERDUE SALARIES TO SOME OF ITS EMPLOYEES ON MONDAY. ABDEL-RAZEQ MADE THE PLEDGE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AMID MOUNTING PROTESTS OVER NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES. PRIME MINISTER ISMAIL HANIYEH SAID ON FRIDAY BANKS WOULD START PAYING SALARIES TO SOME 40,000 WORKERS IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ABOUT 165,000 EMPLOYEES ON ITS PAYROLL. NONE HAS BEEN PAID FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS, SINCE HAMAS TOOK POWER AND ISRAEL AND THE WEST CUT OFF FUNDING TO THE ISLAMIST-LED GOVERNMENT, REUTERS REPORTED.