GAZA, Dec. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Thursday slammed a statement by key Mideast peace brokers, which demanded the future Palestinian government to exclude militants involved in violence against Israel, as an "apparent intervention" in the Palestinian internal affairs.

   Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip Musheer al-Masri told reporters that the statement by the Quartet Committee, groupingthe United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, was a U.S. decision which exposed the "double standards adopted by the Quartet on democracy."

   Al-Masri also said such a statement concerning the makeup of the future Palestinian government to be set up after the Jan. 25 legislative elections only benefited Israel.

   Denouncing the statement as "an assault on the Palestinian leadership", al-Masri said, "the Palestinian people will only follow the Palestinian law and will not bow to any external wills."

   In addition, al-Masri urged the Palestinian National Authority(PNA) to take strong positions concerning the Quartet's demand.

   The Quartet Committee issued on Wednesday a statement, which said  a future Palestinian cabinet "should include no member who has not committed to the principles of Israel's right to exist in peace and security and an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism." 

   Meanwhile, the statement urged Israel to work with the PNA to ensure that Palestinians living in East Jerusalem can vote in the January legislative elections.

   The statement also said it was essential that Israel and the Palestinians started immediately coordinating election preparations.

   Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, has shown a strong performance in the Palestinian local elections and is widely expected to do well in the upcoming legislative elections, its first parliamentary bid.  Enditem