Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has insisted that no changes be made to a plan backing a two-state solution to the conflict with Israel.

He wants Hamas to support the creation of a Palestinian state beside Israel.

On 25 May, he gave factions 10 days to accept a plan or he said he would call a referendum on the issue. That deadline expires at the end of Monday.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas has said Palestinian law does not allow for such a referendum.

The referendum would merely seek public approval and its result would not be binding.

Aides to Mr Abbas argue therefore that there would be no legal obstacle to the president ordering it.

Talks between Hamas and Mr Abbas' political faction, Fatah, on the issue began a week ago and continued on Monday.

Tension between Fatah and Hamas has been growing steadily since the latter won general elections in January.

On Monday, armed supporters of Hamas stormed a TV office in Gaza, complaining of bias towards Fatah.

Hamas itself denied any responsibility for the attack.

'Still talking'

Fatah recognises Israel, but Hamas officially wants an Islamic state in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Its charter calls for Israel's destruction.

Mr Abbas insisted that the document should not be changed. "The referendum is not a target itself. It is a means," he said.

"We are still talking. We have all day and hopefully the parties will be able to reach an agreement... and then we will not need to go to a referendum."

Fatah MP Azzam Ahmed said on Monday that if Hamas showed flexibility in talks, the deadline Fatah set for the calling of the referendum might be extended by two days.

Mr Ahmed also said that if Mr Abbas won the referendum he would be expected to dissolve parliament and call new presidential and legislative elections.

Prisoners' plan

The plan Mr Abbas is seeking to put to a referendum is an 18-point programme agreed by various faction members jailed by Israel.

The document was agreed by senior figures from Hamas, Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Islamic Jihad.

It sets out formal Palestinian claims to an independent state on land occupied by Israel in 1967, as well as the right of all Palestinian refugees to return to former homes inside Israel.

Thousands of Palestinians left their homes following the establishment of Israel in 1948.

The document calls for continued resistance within lands occupied by Israel in 1967, suggesting that attacks inside internationally-recognized Israel would end.

European foreign policy Chief Javier Solana was in Israel and the West Bank on Monday.

He pledged the European Union's continued financial support of the Palestinians.

"The EU continues to be the most important donor to the Palestinians. More money is being given in the year 2006 than 2005. We will not let the Palestinians down," he said at a joint news conference with Mr Abbas in Ramallah.

On Monday thousands of Palestinian government workers collected pay for the first time since Hamas came to power three months ago.

The cash shortage has arisen because of an economic embargo imposed by the EU, US and Israel to persuade Hamas to renounce violence and recognize the Israeli state.

PA salaries normally support a quarter of the population, and when the pay stopped, the economy began to seize up.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas