WASHINGTON, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States, who lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, said on Thursday that every country is free to make its own decisions about its ties with the Palestinian military group.

    Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, won a large parliamentary majority in elections in late January.

    "Obviously the United States is not going to deal with Hamas. It's a terror group," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said at a news briefing.

    However, Ereli said "Every country is free to make its own decisions about who it meets with and who it doesn't meet with."

    "Our position is that if you are going to meet with a terrorist group, you should make it clear to them that their way of doing business is unacceptable," the spokesman added.

    Ereli made the remarks when Hamas leaders are due to meet Russian officials in Moscow on Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the invitation plan weeks after Hamas won Jan. 25 parliamentary elections.

    Besides, a scheduled meeting between leaders of South Africa and Hamas are being worked out. Enditem