Russia tells Abbas it supports him as Palestinian leader

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is seeking

Russian support in his conflict with Hamas, that it supports him as the leader of the entire Palestinian people.

"We firmly support you as leader of the entire Palestinian people," Lavrov told Abbas, making his first

trip to Russia since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip. Abbas, who arrived Sunday in Moscow, was also slated to meet with President Vladimir Putin during his three-day trip. (AP)