Hamas leader 'ready to talk to Barack Obama'

9:57am Tuesday 18th November 2008

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The leader of Hamas says he's ready to talk to the new US President Elect Barack Obama.

In an interview with Sky News, Khaled Meshaal said the new Obama Administration has no choice but to deal with Hamas.

Sky News Middle East correspondent Dominic Waghorn met Meshaal in his Syrian refuge after delicate negotiations.

Picking up on Obama's offer to talk to America's enemies, Meshaal threw down a gauntlet for the new President Elect.

“There is no doubt that the recent American election is a big change, when you get an American President with African roots.

"It's a big change political and psychological and it is noteworthy and I congratulate President Obama.

"We are ready for dialogue with President Obama and with the new American administration with an open mind on the basis that the American administration respects our rights and our options.”

“The American Administration, if they want to deal with the region, Palestine and the Arab Israeli conflict, they have no other option than deal with Hamas, because we are a real effective force on the ground, and we are a movement that won a majority of votes in the election.

"Second of all, it's not right that Hamas poses any danger to anyone.”