Former President Jimmy Carter announced Sunday that he will most likely include a meeting with leaders of Syrian militant group Hamas in his upcoming tour of the Middle East despite protests from the Bush administration, the Reuters news agency reported Sunday.
Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip last June, has been isolated and denounced by U.S. officials who support pro-western Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to Reuters.
U.S. ally Israel has also expressed its disapproval of the meeting, which is scheduled to take place during Carter's nine-day trip.
"We'll be meeting with ... the whole gamut of people who might have to play a crucial role in any further peace agreement that involves the Middle East," Carter said during an interview on ABC News' "This Week."
-C.C.
