U N agencies limit Hamas government contacts

JERUSALEM, April 11 (Reuters) - The United Nations has advised its aid agencies to avoid meeting with Hamas political leaders and to limit any contacts to technocrats in the new Palestinian government, U N officials said today.

Restrictions on U N contacts with the new government could further increase pressure on Hamas leaders, already shunned by Israel, the United States and the European Union.

''Contacts will continue at levels to ensure the continuation of humanitarian programmes,'' a senior U N official told Reuters.

But under U.N. guidance, aid agencies were told to ''avoid political contact'' with Hamas leaders. These would include cabinet ministers and other high-level Hamas appointments in the new government.

The United Nations is a member of the Quartet of Middle East mediators, along with the United States, the European Union and Russia.

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