Head of the Palestinian Self-Rule Authority Mahmoud Abbas has appointed two senior Fatah officials to start informal talks with Hamas movement, an informed source said on Sunday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to start a five-day tour of three nations on Tuesday, which will take him to Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Iranian Industries and Mines Minister Ali-Reza Tahmasbi said farewells to his deputies this morning and left the ministry for good, although his recent resignation request has not yet been approved by President Ahmadinejad, an informed source said.