The Fatah movement in Palestine has nominated Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to head a transitional government as part of a unity deal with their rivals in the Islamic militant group Hamas. The nomination of the economist could ease Western concerns over the reconciliation deal, which offers Hamas an equal say in the administration that will govern the country until elections next year. But the nomination made yesterday could complicate the efforts of Hamas and Fatah negotiators already struggling to implement the details of the agreement. Fatah members met yesterday to finalise a proposed list of candidates for Cabinet positions. A Fatah official who attended the meeting said Fayyad was chosen to be their candidate. Fatah and Hamas negotiators are to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss Cabinet formation. Fayyad took over as prime minister in 2007 after a short-lived unity government between Fatah and Hamas collapsed into bloodshed that left Fatah governing only in the West Bank and Hamas in charge of Gaza.