But he said today that "we need a broad-based government."

"We want a broad-based government at peace with its neighbors," she said.

"That is why we need cooperation and a broad-based government."

But their return makes the task of forming the broad-based government that the Bush administration says it wants much more difficult.

It looked as if he would either have to form a more broad-based government of national unity or call elections.

And he dismissed the efforts to establish a broad-based government in Afghanistan.

"If the Americans help bring in a broad-based, impartial government and spend money on infrastructure, we may have those things again,"he said.

Moreover, even greater efforts will have to be made to establish a broad-based government for the Afghan people.

A broad-based government could strengthen Hamas as it seeks international support.

"Our goal is the speedy creation of a broad-based government," he said.