GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Sunday that Hamas didn't get any official invitation to visit Russia.

    Abu Zuhri made the denial to reporters in Gaza following world media reports have said that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Hamas leaders to meet with him in Moscow.

    There is information about a possible visit for leaders of Hamas who would head for talks in Moscow by the end of February, said Abu Zuhri, adding there is no official invitation yet.

    It was reported that Putin stated two days ago as he was visiting Spain that he would invite leaders of Hamas to Moscow to meet with them.

    Meanwhile, the envoy of the Russian foreign minister to the Middle East Alexander Kalogen had also said that it's possible that Hamas would hold talks in Moscow within this month. Russia's initiative has angered the United States and the European Union.

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had to contact U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to inform them that Russia is abided with the Quartet Committee's position.

    Lavrov assured that Moscow would support Hamas when it would be committed to dismantling its arms and abandoning terrorism acts as well as recognizing the state of Israel.

    After Hamas won the January elections, the Quartet Committee grouping the U.S., the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, urged Hamas to recognize Israel and renounce violence, a call has been rejected by the movement. Enditem