Abbas to arrive in Moscow today for W Asia talks

Moscow, July 29 (UNI) In the wake of the recent Gaza strip violence, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is arriving here today on a three-day working visit to discuss the West Asia situation with Russian leaders.

Abbas is expected to seek political support from the Russian leadership during his visit, Russian media reported.

Russian Foreign Ministry said it would be Abbas's first visit to Russia since inter-Palestinian clashes in June between President-led Fatah supporters and radical Hamas, which led to the Gaza Strip falling into the hands of Hamas.

Ahead of his visit to Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and reiterated that Moscow was convinced of the need to restore Palestinian unity under the leadership of the Palestinian President.

Abbas's main aim is to win diplomatic Russian support, Sergei Oznobishchev, Director of the Strategic Assessment and Analysis Institute said.

''He wants to know who will get our backing in West Asia and how. He wants to clarify the situation,'' Oznobishchev said, commenting on the Palestinian President's visit.

A political split between Fatah and Hamas led to the collapse of the national unity government and the establishment of dual power, with the West Bank under the PNA head's jurisdiction, receiving Western aid, while the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, is completely isolated and under an embargo by the PNA, the US and Israel.

Russia could become a mediator between the conflicting sides, the head of the Middle East Institute, Yevgeny Satanovsky said.

Russia could play a special role of being a particular mediator in relations with Hamas leaders, Mr Satanovsky said but warned Russia against getting too much involved in the Palestinian conflict.

UNI