Russia to back Palestinian referendum proposal: Lavrov

Moscow, Jun 9 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said he backed a proposal to hold a referendum on establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.

He said Russia was part of an international ''Quartet'' leading efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority(PNA). The ''Quartet'' includes Russia, US, EU and UN.

''We hope the Palestinians will make a clear choice and that the referendum will bring nearer the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state,'' Mr Lavrov said and added Russia supported efforts for national accord among all Palestinian groups.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been reported to be planning a referendum on July 31 on a document drawn up by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails that effectively accepts a settlement with Israel for the two states to exist side by side based on 1967 borders.

He said he would call the poll unless radical Islamic group Hamas acknowledged Israel's right to exist and launched talks aimed at finding a solution. Hamas won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections in January.

Hamas vehemently opposed the referendum as ''illegal'', saying local laws did not permit holding referendums on Palestinian law.

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