Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri made the remarks in response to a report by Radio Sawa financed by the United States, which said more than 200 Hamas members infiltrated into Iraq from Iran to carry out armed attacks against the US forces in Iraq.

   "These reports are silly and are totally untrue and there are no facts that can approve these silly claims," said Abu Zuhri, adding that "such reports are published by American and Zionist groups aiming at inciting hatred against Hamas."

   He said such claims "can never be believed and they are exaggerated," adding that Hamas armed resistance "is only directed against the Zionist occupation that occupies our lands and kills our people."

   Meanwhile, Abu Zuhri denied another report by the radio saying that Hamas chief in Syria Khaled Mesha'al had left Syria to Iran upon the demands of Syria.

   He said "it is a normal and natural leave," adding that "the Palestinian leaders abroad have the free access of traveling in theArab and Islamic world's regions."

   He declined to confirm Mesha'al had really left Damascus for Tehran.

   The radio reported that Mesha'al had left Syria and headed to Iran, accompanied by an Iranian delegation in fear of being targeted by Israel, shortly after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarakhad visited Damascus.

   The radio said the United States had urged Syria to expel the chiefs of all Palestinian organizations that Syria is hosting. Enditem