Hamas FM warns against internal strife

DAMASCUS, Syria, June 13 (UPI) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahhar warned against causing deep schisms among Palestinians who have to put up with a U.S.-Israeli imposed siege.

Zahhar, who held talks with his Syrian counterpart Waleed Moallem in Damascus Tuesday, held the U.S. and Israel responsible for the problems of the Palestinian people "due to the siege aimed at starving the people and depriving children from milk, medicine and bread."

The foreign minister in the Hamas-led government also warned against policies aimed at driving a wedge among Palestinians, the Syrian News Agency, SANA, reported.

Zahhar was commenting on inter-Palestinian violence which pitted Hamas versus Fatah gunmen in the past weeks and Monday's arson of the parliament building in Gaza.

He charged that "there is a clear conspiracy aimed at stirring an internal strife among the sons of the single Palestinian people," stressing Hamas' keenness to "preserve the national unity of this people."

Zahhar also briefed his Syrian counterpart on the outcome of his Asian tour in which he said he received full political and financial support for the Palestinian people.

He said "the talks focused on bilateral issues as well as the situation on the Palestinians scene," hailing "the support extended by Syria to the Palestinian people and its just cause and Syria's efforts to ensure Palestinian national unity."

Zahhar said the Syrian leadership underscored the need to keep up internal Palestinian dialogue to ensure the national interests of the Palestinian people.

Damascus hosts Hamas's exiled leadership, including the Islamic militant group's Politburo chief Khaled Meshaal.