Ramallah, Sep 17 (DPA) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has suspended the formation of a national unity government owing to "negative" statements from the ruling Hamas party, a Palestinian official said Sunday.

"I believe that this step had been decided due to what (Abbas) considered negative and contradictory statements that led to negative international reactions, which do not help the forming of the new government," said Abdel Rahman, a spokesman for Abbas' Fatah party.

He said the statements by Hamas leaders were made "as President Abbas was trying to change the international climate for positive relations with the new government".

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an advisor to Abbas, told the Palestinian al-Quds daily that the formation of the national unity government would be delayed until after Abbas returned from an upcoming visit to the US.

Abbas wants the new unity government to adopt a moderate platform that would end the international isolation, which the Palestinian Authority has slipped into since Hamas took office five months ago and refused to change its charter to include recognition of Israel, an end to retaliation and acceptance of previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Hamas spokesperson said that even as part of a national unity government the militant movement would not accept Israel's right to exist.

Hazem Abu Shanab, a Palestinian political analyst from Gaza said that Abbas was travelling to the US to get a green light to form the national coalition government that "brings financial aid and resumes the stalled peace process".