Hamas's Mashaal urges West to back Palestinian deal

Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal urged the United States and the European Union on Sunday to support a reconciliation deal that ended a four-year rift with Fatah, saying the accord was the Palestinian people's choice.

Mashaal told Reuters in an interview that the issue of Palestinian recognition of Israel could only be addressed after an independent state was set up in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Reuters)