By IRNA,
Berlin : A verbal battle between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa overshadowed the opening of an international Mideast conference in Berlin aimed at boosting the security and judicial system of the Palestinian Authority.
Rice caused a major uproar at the confab by interrupting Moussa’s inaugural speech after the Arab League official called for an international policy change towards the Hamas.
The top American diplomat reaffirmed her hardline stance vis-a-vis Hamas while citing repeated western demands for a recognition of Palestine’s Islamic resistance.
Moussa lashed out at US and Israeli-led efforts to continue to isolate Hamas.
Top political representatives from 41 states, among them 23 foreign ministers, were taking part in the meeting at the German Foreign Ministry dubbed ‘The Palestine Security Conference’.
Talks were to focus on rebuilding a functioning Palestinian law enforcement and judicial system.
At the same the Mideast Quartet, comprised of the US, Russia, European Union and UN, was reportedly slated to meet on the sidelines of the Palestine confab.