UN envoy 'no longer acceptable:' Palestinians

The Palestinian leadership will no longer work with the UN peace envoy, a senior official said on Thursday, accusing him of overstepping his role by seeking a deal between Israel and the Hamas. Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) executive committee, said it had informed the UN secretary general that envoy Nickolay Mladenov was "no longer acceptable" to the Palestinian government. Mladenov had "gone beyond his role" in seeking agreements between Israel and rival Palestinian faction Hamas, which controls Gaza, he said, adding that his actions impacted "Palestinian national security and the unity of our people." There was no immediate comment from Mladenov or confirmation from the United Nations.