Hamas says to visit Russia in near future
Feb 12, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Hamas delegates will travel to Russia in the near future for talks with Moscow, a leader of the Islamic militant group that won last month’s Palestinian election said on Sunday.
Khaled Meshaal, visiting the Sudanese capital Khartoum, also said representatives of Hamas would attend a summit of Arab leaders next month to ask for support for the new Palestinian leadership.
Meshaal called on the international community to respect the democratic vote of the Palestinian people to elect Hamas, a group Washington lists as a terrorist organisation.
“We will in the near future travel to Russia at the invitation of the Russian leadership,” Meshaal told reporters on arrival in Sudan, which is on Washington’s list of states that sponsor terror.
The invitation from Russia — part of the Quartet including the European Union, United States and United Nations mediating the Middle East peace process — surprised Western governments who have ruled out talks with Hamas until it renounces violence and recognises Israel’s right to exist.
Hamas won an overwhelming majority in last month’s election and is expected to form the majority in a new Palestinian government.
“We ask the international community to respect the results of this democratic vote,” Meshaal said. “The Palestinian people have chosen and it’s now up to you to respect their choice.”
Khartoum will host the Arab League summit next month and Meshaal said Hamas would attend and ask Arab leaders to support the newly-elected Palestinian leadership.
The Palestinian government is heavily dependent on European and U.S. aid. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has threatened to withhold aid unless Hamas recognises Israel.
Hamas has carried out more than 60 suicide bombings against Israeli targets since an uprising began in 2000 against Israeli occupation of land Palestinians want for a state.
Hamas leaders have often been the target of Israeli assassination attempts. Meshaal lives in exile in Syria.
(Reuters)