GAZA, April 18 (Xinhuanet) -- A new Hamas leader has been appointed following Saturday's assassination of Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas statement said on Sunday.

    However, the statement declined to disclose the name and identity of the new Hamas leader due to security reasons.

    Rantisi succeeded Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the Hamas spiritual leader who was killed in an Israeli missile strike on March 22. Enditem