MOSCOW (AP) — The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas is visiting Moscow as Russia seeks to expand its role in Middle East peacemaking.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued no information about Monday's meeting between Khaled Mashaal and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Moscow hopes to host a Middle East peace conference.
Moscow sees Hamas as an integral part of the peace process despite strong opposition from Israel and the U.S., which list the organization as a terrorist group. Russia has repeatedly called for an end to the blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Russia is part of the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacebrokers that also includes the U.S., the European Union and the United Nations.
