By NNN-KUNA
Moscow : Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called on the Palestinians to reunite under the leadership of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Lavrov, in a telephone conversation with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishal Thursday, said more work was needed to unite the Palestinians.
A statement by the Foreign Ministry said Lavrov and Mishal discussed the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Mishal said there was no problem in initiating cooperation between Hamas and Fatah to establish the independent Palestinian state.
He said that Hamas was backing the Palestinian national unity under Abbas' leadership, said the statement.
Abbas will start a three-day visit to Moscow on Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov.
Political observors believe that Moscow would mediate between Hamas and Fatah.