Russia says will continue contacts with Hamas

OTTAWA, Mar 6 (Reuters) The Russian government will stay in contact with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the wake of a Moscow meeting over the weekend, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today.

During the talks, Hamas rejected Russian appeals for it to recognize Israel or disband its armed wing. Israel criticized Moscow, saying the talks had been a mistake.

''I believe this (meeting) was very useful. We agreed to continue the contacts,'' Lavrov told reporters in Ottawa after talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay.

REUTERS CH HT2355