Hamas Denies Reports About Haniyya Being Next Prime Minister
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=13579

GAZA, February 12, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] - The
Islamic movement Hamas denied recent reports in the media about the
movement's leading figure, Ismail Haniyya, being offered the position of the
next Prime Minister.

Elected Hamas legislator, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, asserted that these reports were
merely guessing, pointing out that his movement will declare the name of the
person who will be offered this position in the right time.

"Deliberations are still ongoing and the next government will be declared
within weeks of holding the first session of the new legislative council,
and after President Mahmoud Abbas appoints the appropriate person to form
the government," Bahar told Maan News Agency on Saturday.

The Hamas lawmaker stressed that the government formations has already been
selected by his movement, but said it was hoping the discussions and
deliberations with the other factions would result in convincing them,
especially Fateh movement, to join the government in a national coalition.

He noted that Hamas is waiting for Fateh to hold its sixth General Assembly,
which means that the new government will not be declared before the end of
March.

In the same context, the London-based "Al Sharq Al Awsat" newspaper reported
Saturday that Hamas movement has concluded deliberations on the formation of
the next government, referring that it is leaning towards appointing Haniyya
for the position of Prime Minister over the prominent Hamas figure Dr.
Mahmoud Zahar.

On the other hand, a senior official at the Russian Foreign Ministry
announced yesterday that a delegation from Hamas movement might visit Moscow
by the end of February, as was reported by the Russian News Agency
"Interfax".

Alexander Kalugin, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy to the
Middle East, told reporters that the visit was "very possible".

"The visiting delegation will probably be headed by Hamas' politburo chief,
Khaled Mashaal, who is also heading the delegation currently on a tour in
several Arab countries," Kalugin explained.

Responding to a question about the possibility of inviting Hamas officially
to visit Russia, the Russian envoy asserted that the statements of Russian
president Vladimir Putin "can be considered an official invitation," noting
that "as far as we are concerned, we are working on determining the date of
the visit and its level."

Last Thursday, the Russian president announced during a visit to Madrid that
he will invite soon the leaders of Hamas to Moscow in order to discuss a
solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the meantime, the politburo chief of Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal,
welcomed and praised the Russian invitation, adding that he accepts it and
would conduct the visit soon.

Mashaal further made clear, during an interview with Al Jazeera's news
website, that one of the movement's delegation stops would be Jordan, after
an agreement was made with Jordanian officials to "forget past disagreements
and open a new page."

He stated also that arrangements are being made for an imminent visit to
Saudi Arabia, as well as intentions to hold good relations with the
countries of Latin America.