Carter reportedly to visit Hamas leader

DAMASCUS, Syria, April 11 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will go to Syria, his press secretary said, while stopping short of confirming he will meet with Hamas leader Khaled Meshal.

"President Carter is planning a trip to the Mideast next week; however, we are still confirming details of the trip and will issue a press release," press secretary Deanna Congileo said in an e-mail. "I cannot confirm any specific meetings at this point in time."

The possibility of an impending meeting between the former president and the exiled Hamas political leader in Damascus, reported by Fox News, has drawn criticism among American officials, Haaretz reported. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton criticized Carter's judgment, saying "to go to Syria to visit Hamas at this point is just an ill-timed, ill-advised decision on his part."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the department would "provide support befitting a former president," but did not plan or schedule any meetings with Hamas leaders, and counseled Carter against the meeting, Israeli Insider reported.

"U.S. government policy is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and we believe it is not the interests of our policy or in the interests of peace to have such a meeting," McCormack said.