MOSCOW, Feb. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- A delegation of the militant Palestinian group Hamas could visit Moscow before the end of February, a senior Russian diplomat said on Saturday.

    "This is quite possible. The delegation is likely to be led by Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal because he has led delegations that have visited Arab countries lately," Alexander Kalugin, the foreign minister's Middle East envoy, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    Asked when an official invitation will be forwarded to Hamas,Kalugin said, "What the Russian president has said can well be considered an official invitation. Our department is already engaged in coordinating the dates and level of this visit."

    Hamas swept Palestinian parliamentary elections last month. President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would invite Hamas leaders to Moscow for talks.

    France has backed Russia's invitation.Russia is a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East, which also includes the United Nations, the United States and the European Union. Enditem