MOSCOW, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday a delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas will visit Russia in early March for talks on the Middle East peace process, the Interfax news agency reported.

    An agreement has been reached for the Hamas delegation to visit Moscow in the beginning of March 2006," the ministry said in a statement.

    Hamas parliament member Khalil Abu Laila confirmed on Thursday that his group has received an official invitation from Russia fortalks there.

    Abu Laila, in charge of foreign affairs in Hamas, told reporters that a Hamas delegation would head to Moscow, capital of Russia, later this month.

    Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited leaders of Hamas, which swept the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections, to visit his country for talks, which was accepted by Hamas. Enditem