Hamas politburo member Abu Marzouk pays visit to Moscow

Abu Marzouk, a member of the politburo of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas, has arrived in Moscow with a delegation, an anonymous source in the Palestinian delegation told Gazeta.ru.

"They (the delegation) are in Moscow," the agency's interlocutor said.

According to his information, the delegation is headed by Abu Marzouk, a member of the group's politburo.

Musa Mohammed Abu Marzouk is a Palestinian politician, deputy head of the Hamas politburo, and head of the movement in 1991-1995.

Meanwhile, a senior Russian diplomat announced that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will soon visit Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I can say that he [Abbas] will soon arrive on an official visit in Moscow; talks with Vladimir [Putin] will be held here," said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say exactly when Abbas would arrive. "We will announce the date [of Abbas’ upcoming visit] in due time," Peskov said, as he surmised that the two leaders would primarily discuss the situation in the Middle East.