S. Africa invites leaders of Hamas for talks

JERUSALEM — South Africa on Thursday joined a growing list of countries inviting Hamas leaders for talks, raising Israeli concerns that the international front against the Islamic militants is crumbling.

As Hamas pressed on with efforts to form a Palestinian government and gain world support, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that al-Qaida terrorists are trying to infiltrate the West Bank and Gaza.

"We have information, yet to be confirmed, that al-Qaida, just as it sends its operatives to Jordan and other countries like Saudi Arabia and others, also might send us operatives for sabotage [acts]," Abbas said after meeting with Israeli Labor Party leader Amir Peretz at the border between Jordan and the West Bank.

"We must be alert, and all our security forces are trying with all means to prevent their arrival here, or their carrying out any sabotage acts in this region," Abbas said, backtracking from a report in the London-based Al Hayat newspaper quoting him as saying al-Qaida already had a presence in the Palestinian areas.

Israel has been trying to isolate Hamas to counter the effect of its imminent rise to power in the neighboring Palestinian territories. Israel's efforts suffered a blow when Russia invited Hamas leaders for talks, due to begin today.

Hamas said Thursday that South Africa also has invited its leaders for talks, though it said no date had been set. The South African Foreign Ministry confirmed the invitation.