Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei resigned on Thursday shortly after the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) claimed victory in the Palestinian legislative elections.

Qurei and other cabinet members formally submitted their resignations on Thursday morning just moments after Hamas announced winning around 70 seats in the new 132-member parliament.

Officials from the long dominant Fatah movement, of which Qurei is a senior member, also acknowledged that Hamas has garnered more seats than Fatah.

The resignation of the cabinet came in accordance with the Palestinian law, which stipulates that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asks the party or faction that garners a majority of seats in the parliament to form a new cabinet.

Final results of Wednesday's key ballot are expected to be announced by the Palestinian Central Election Commission at around 7:00 p.m. (1700 GMT).

If confirmed winner, Hamas, which publicly commits itself to Israel's destruction, will set up a new Palestinian government, which might reshape the political landscape of the Mideast peace process.