Abbas aide says Finance Minister Salam Fayyad chosen as new prime minister

Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, an independent, has been chosen as the new Palestinian prime minister, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told an Arab TV satellite station Friday.

Fayyad, who is well-respected by the international community, would replace Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who was fired by Abbas on Thursday, after Hamas took control of Gaza by force. Abbas aide Nabil Amr told the Al Jazeera satellite TV station that Fayyad had been selected as Hanieyh's successor. (AP)