RUSSIA: Russia downgrades ties with Hamas

Russia endorses Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with Moscow announcing a downgrading of its ties with the Hamas Islamist group. Abbas calls on Hamas to accept responsibility for its "crimes" against the Palestinian people. Russia said on Tuesday (July 31) it had downgraded its ties with the Hamas Islamist group, in a show of support for visiting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The announcement was made by a Russian deputy foreign minister after President Vladimir Putin met Abbas for talks at the Kremlin. Abbas is locked in a feud with the Hamas group for control of the Palestinian territories. Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip last month and Abbas responded by dismissing a Hamas-led government. Putin endorsed Abbas as legitimate leader of the Palestinian people and told him he backed his efforts to end the rift with Hamas. Russia is a member of the Middle East Quartet along with the United States, the United Nations and the European Union. Abbas urged Putin to send more aid to help ease hardship in the Palestinian territories. Western countries cut direct aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas came to power last year, but aid has resumed since Abbas fired the group. Speaking to reporters after talks at the Kremlin, Abbas called on Hamas to accept responsibility for all the "crimes" it has committed after what he called a "coup" by the Islamist group in the Gaza strip. Russia established high-level contacts with Hamas after it won Palestinian elections last year, even though Western powers shunned the militant group because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

ITN Source | July 31, 2007

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