In brief: Abbas may head interim government

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Hamas on Sunday endorsed a proposal by Qatar that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas assume the role of prime minister in an interim Palestinian unity government that would prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza, according to two officials close to the contacts.

Abbas said in meetings Sunday with Qatar’s emir and Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal that he would consider the idea, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

A Hamas website quoted a source close to the talks as saying Abbas and Mashaal agreed in principle that Abbas would head the interim government. Abbas and Mashaal are to meet again today, said Azzam al-Ahmed, a top Abbas aide.

Former Panamanian dictator hospitalized

PANAMA CITY – Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who was toppled by a 1989 American invasion and later convicted of drug running, was transferred from prison to a hospital on Sunday because of extreme hypertension, health officials said.

Health Minister Franklin Vergara said Noriega’s blood pressure was very high, nearly leading to a stroke. The former military strongman arrived at a hospital, and doctors saw signs of a possible brain hemorrhage.

Further X-rays and evaluations yielded normal results, Vergara said.

“He is conscious, knows where he is and we are not finding any injury with long-term effects at this moment,” Vergara said.

Noriega, 77, will remain in intensive care for 24 hours, he said.

Panama’s National Police said earlier Sunday in a statement that Noriega had possibly suffered a stroke.