WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua)-- The United States said on Friday that it needed more time to study an agreement signed by Palestinian factions to form a unity government.

    "It's important that we be given some time to look at the agreement, especially at the details of it," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.

    The agreement should help put an end to bloody violence between Fatah and Hamas supporters which has left some 100 dead since December, Perino noted.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh signed on Thursday an agreement on forming a Palestinian national unity government after Mecca talks under the sponsorship of Saudi King Abdullah Ibn Abdul-Aziz.

    The Mecca deal consists of four major points. The first calls for ending all kinds of fighting among Palestinians, and the second is the formation of a national unity government.

    The third and fourth points in the agreement are related to the formation of Palestine Liberation Organization and also manifesting the political partnership among all Palestinian powers and factions.

    "We will see in the coming days and weeks whether or not this government of national unity is one that is clearly and credibly committed to those principles," State Department spokesman Sean Mccormack said.

    Besides, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey also said "We need to see a government be formed and see what the policies and practices of that government are."