AMMAN, Jordan, May 9 (UPI) -- Jordanian Islamists urged open direct dialogue between the government and Hamas as a Palestinian security team is due in Amman to discuss charges against Hamas.
The secretary-general of the Islamic Action Front, political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood organization, Zaki Bin Arshid said Tuesday "the Jordanian government is requested to enter direct dialogue with Hamas to discuss relations between them as well as joint Palestinian-Jordanian interests.
"The dialogue should be direct and at the highest level of decision makers on both sides without any mediation, especially if we take into consideration the existing internal conflict between Fatah represented by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas-led government which reflects the choice of the people," Bin Arshid said.
The Islamist leader made the comment shortly before a Palestinian security team was scheduled to arrive in Amman to discuss Jordan's accusations that Hamas was smuggling arms and preparing to attack vital targets in the kingdom.
Palestinian ambassador in Amman Atallah Khairy told United Press International the team will include security officials only after the Hamas-led Palestinian government refused to send political officials.
He said the team groups the head of general intelligence, his deputy and the heads of Palestinian security agencies.
The Palestinian government, which denied Jordan's accusations, said it will not be represented in the team because the charges were addressed to the group's leadership abroad.
Jordan said arms were smuggled by Hamas into Jordan through Syria upon orders of Damascus-based Hamas officials.
