BEIJING, Jan. 29 -- The Bush administration says it would like to see Mahmoud Abbas retain his position as Palestinian President and continue to move the peace process forward.

    Speaking at the White House in Washington, press secretary Scott McClellan reiterates the U.S. government's position on Hamas will not change.

    "We would like to see President Abbas stay in office and continue to move the peace process forward. We have made it very clear that we do not and will not deal with Hamas, because it is a terrorist organisation that has as part of its platform, the destruction of Israel."

    The United States, the European Union and Israel all consider Hamas to be a terrorist group.