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Russia supports Abbas leadership Russia supports Abbas leadership
(30 minutes later)
Russia has shown strong support for the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, during his visit to Moscow. Russia has shown strong support for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
President Vladimir Putin expressed his confidence in Mr Abbas, calling him the legitimate leader of all Palestinians. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who held talks with Mr Abbas in Moscow, called him the "legitimate leader of all Palestinians".
Fatah leader Mr Abbas has been in dispute with the rival Hamas movement whose fighters took control of the Gaza Strip six weeks ago. Russia has simultaneously announced it was lowering its contacts with the militant group Hamas.
Russia, unlike the US and EU, has contacts with both Mr Abbas and Hamas. Mr Abbas, who leads the Fatah movement, has been in dispute with his Hamas rivals whose supporters took control of the Gaza Strip six weeks ago.
"I want to assure you that Russia will support you as the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people," Mr Putin told Mr Abbas. "I want to assure you that Russia will support you," Mr Putin told Mr Abbas.
"I am convinced that you will do everything to restore the unity of the Palestinian people", he said after talks with his Palestinian counterpart in Moscow. "I am convinced that you will do everything to restore the unity of the Palestinian people," he said after talks.
Russia is a member of the Quartet - along with the US, UN, EU - which is trying to work towards a political solution in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. 'Lowered' ties
Moscow established high-level contacts with Hamas after it won Palestinian elections last year, as Western powers shunned it because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. Russia's first deputy foreign minister said contacts with Hamas had been "somewhat downgraded". Russia is a member of the Quartet - along with the US, UN, EU - which is trying to work towards a political settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Mr Abbas fired the Hamas-led government last month after it won the struggle for the Gaza Strip - a move rejected as illegitimate by the Hamas leadership. Moscow established high-level contacts with Hamas after it won Palestinian elections last year, as Western powers shunned the group over its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
Russia's first deputy foreign minister said contacts with Hamas had been "somewhat lowered" and there are no high-level meetings in prospect.
Mr Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government last month after the Islamic group won the struggle for the Gaza Strip.