UN agencies limit Hamas government contacts

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

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

But by maintaining contacts with the new government at a ''technical level for operational purposes,'' the UN bucked efforts by the United States to isolate the cash-strapped government and its ministries.

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

UN aid agencies were at the same time advised to ''avoid political contact'' with Hamas leaders. These leaders would include cabinet ministers and other high-level appointments.

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

While the Quartet was united in calling on Hamas to renounce violence, recognise Israel and abide by interim peace deals, members have each set out different policies governing contacts with the new government.

Unlike the UN, the Bush administration has barred its officials and contractors from having any contact with members of the Hamas government, including at the technocrat level.

In private briefings, Bush administration officials have told UN agencies and non-government organisations to ensure that they do not provide any American funding to the Palestinian Authority, its ministries or local municipalities.

The United States has also asked the agencies and groups to abide by Washington's strict no-contact policy when working on projects funded by US taxpayer dollars, according to UN officials briefed by Bush administration officials.

Like the United States, the European Union has severed political contacts with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

But ministers of the 25 member states agreed that humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people would continue along with working-level contacts with lower-level officials to make that possible.

Russia, in contrast, has brushed aside calls to shun Hamas and has maintained contacts with the Islamic militant group at the highest of levels.

REUTERS SRS RAI2044