RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The leader of Hamas promised Saturday to work with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on governing the Palestinian Authority.
But Khaled Meshal also said that "resistance is a legitimate right" and made no promises to recognize Israel's right to exist, the New York Times reported. Instead of giving up its arms, Hamas will strive to create a Palestinian army, he told reporters at a news conference.
Leaders of Muslim countries have been sending Hamas a variety of messages. Iranian and Syrian leaders called for a worldwide acceptance of Hamas, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the vote Wednesday showed Palestinians supported the party of resistance to Israel, the BBC reported.
The head of Lebanon's largest coalition, Saad Hariri, warned Hamas to put down the violent rhetoric and tackle an impending budget crisis in the Palestinian Authority so its people will have homes, jobs and security.
President George W. Bush has called on Hamas to renounce its goal of the destruction of Israel and disarm its militant wing so the Palestinian Authority could continue receiving U.S. aid.
The heads of Egypt, Jordan and Yemen all expressed hope that Hamas would stay in the peace process.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf called on the world to give Hamas a chance as the representative of the Palestinians.
He pointed to Israeli leader Ariel Sharon's longstanding record as a hawk and military official, until a recent decision to push for peace, as an example of hope.
