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Qatar's emir criticizes Western attitudes to Hamas
STRASBOURG (AFP) - Qatar's emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, criticized Western countries for their attitude toward the embattled Palestinian government led by the militant group Hamas. "The Palestinian government, formed by Hamas in accordance with the free will of the Palestinian people, should have the opportunity to work for the people who elected it," he told the European Parliament. But "instead of rewarding the Palestinian people for practising democracy, something rarely witnessed in our region, they have been punished for it," with an international embargo, he said. "Is this not a double standard: to demand free elections, and then object to the results?" said the emir, the first Gulf nation head of state to address the European assembly in Strasbourg. Hamas swept Palestinian elections in January -- deemed free and fair by the EU -- but its government faces collapse under an international embargo for refusing to recognize Israel, renounce violence or accept past peace accords. Qatar has been closely involved in trying to break the political deadlock. Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-11-16 |
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