Ismail Radwan did not give the names of those chosen or say what ministries they would be expected to take.

He added that discussion was still underway on the name of the candidate to take on the critical post of interior minister. That person is to be chosen by Hamas from among independents but approved by president Mahmud Abbas.

Haniya, who formed a Hamas-led government after trouncing the long-ruling Fatah party in parliamentary elections in January 2006, is due to discuss the new coalition on Sunday with Abbas, who is also chief of Fatah.

Radwan said the new government could be announced "at the end of the coming week."

Under the terms of a power-sharing accord signed by Abbas and Hamas supremo Khaled Meshaal in Saudi Arabia on February 8, Hamas will take 10 cabinet posts including Haniya, Abbas's secular Fatah faction six and others four.

The key finance ministry will go to the internationally respected Salam Fayad from the Third Way party, and the foreign ministry to independent MP Ziad Abu Amr, a moderate who was elected with Hamas backing.

The deal was negotiated to bring an end to an often bloody power struggle between the two parties that had carried on since Hamas took power and also to end a punishing 11-month long Western aid freeze.