Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has rejected the decision of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah to dismiss him and dissolve the government after Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip in a violent takeover.

Abbas declared a state of emergency Thursday and deposed Haniyeh and his government.

However, Haniyeh rejected Abbas' decision, saying, "we will... continue with a national unity government."

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"Prime Minister Haniyeh remains the head of the government even if it was dissolved by the president," said senior Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.

Haniyeh said early Friday that Abbas' decision to fire him and his government over Gaza violence was hasty. He told a late-night Gaza news conference that Abbas and his advisers had not considered the consequences of the decision or its effect on the situation on the ground.

Haniyeh also rejected the possibility of a separate Palestinian state in Gaza, without the West Bank - an option that has been raised by Israelis, among others. He said Hamas would impose order in Gaza and called for an end to violence.

Abbas' Fatah movement and its rival Hamas faction have been waging bloody warfare in the Gaza Strip as Hamas moved in to seize control. At least 80 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of this week.

The PA chairman also intends to call for the deployment of a multi-national force in Gaza, and plans to appoint an independent politician as the new Palestinian prime minister, to replace Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, his aides said earlier.

Abbas had already informed the United States, Egypt and Jordan of his decision, said top Abbas aide Tayeb Abdel Rahim, who announced Abbas' decisions at a press conference Thursday.

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