Hamas leader says unconcerned by threats to funds

MOSCOW, Mar 6: Hamas is not worried by Western threats to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority once it forms a new government because it is sure of getting money elsewhere, the group's leader has said.

The Islamist militant group won an election landslide in January, prompting Israel, the United States and European Union to threaten to stop funding unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel -- which it is sworn to destroy.

''We must stick to our principles. Unfortunately all the parties trying to impose conditions on us want to swap the rights of our people for money and this will not happen,'' Meshaal said in an interview with Reuters yesterday.

He said Hamas was confident of getting the money it needed from outside the Western donors who have for years supported the Palestinian Authority, but now threaten to cut aid except that going directly to needy Palesatinians.

REUTERS