Interesting development re Hamas

The United States has signalled an easing of opposition to the participation of Hamas in Palestinian elections and urged Israel to cooperate in organising the polls.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice elaborated the position after a meeting of the International Quartet that called for intensified Middle East peace talks but offered no new initiative to follow up on Israel's pullout fromGaza.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Rice reiterated the US view that there was a "fundamental contradiction" between Hamas' armed activities and its plan to run in January's legislative polls.

But she added: "We understand that the Palestinian political system is in transition, that it is in transition towards a democratic system and that that has to be a Palestinian process.

"I think we have to give the Palestinians some room for the evolution of their political process," the chief USdiplomat said.