Hamas leader congratulates Iranian president

The leader of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip says he affirmed his group's warm ties with Iran during a late-night telephone conversation with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh says the two men exchanged greetings for the current Ramadan holiday Wednesday, and he congratulated Ahmadinejad over his recent re-election. It was unclear why Hamas waited nearly three months to congratulate Ahmadinejad. (AP)