Special report: Internal situation in Palestine     

    GAZA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government on Saturday downplayed a visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East region, during which she will meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

    Government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that Rice's visit and herplans "will only contribute to creating a state of split in the territory."

    Hamad accused Rice of neglecting the Palestinian people's legitimate rights in terms of Jerusalem, return of refugees and dismantling Jewish settlements.

    "The American policy in the Middle East is used to boost Israeli plans at the expense of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights," he said.

    It was reported that Rice would come with a peace plan to establish a Palestinian statehood with temporary borders. But Rice told reporters on her way to the region that she did not take any specific peace plans.

    Rice will also visit Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.