US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that the US position on Hamas as a "terrorist organization" has remained unchanged despite its victory in the Palestinian legislative elections.

"As we have said, you can not have one foot in politics and another in terror. Our position on Hamas has therefore not changed," Rice said in a nationally televised statement.

Rice said that the Palestinian people have apparently voted for change, but their aspirations for peace and a peaceful life remain unchanged.

"Those aspirations can only be met through a two-state solution, which requires a renunciation of violence and turning away from terrorism, and accepting the right of Israel to exist, and the disarmament of militias," Rice said.

Nonetheless, Rice extended congratulations to Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and the Palestinian people "on an election process that was peaceful and free of violence, and by all accounts fair, and where there was very heavy turnout of the Palestinian population."

The United States has termed Hamas as a "terrorist group" and called for the group to be disarmed.

To the dismay of the United States, a Hamas spokesman announced earlier Thursday that the group had won 77 seats in the 132-member parliament, defeating the long dominant Fatah. If confirmed winner, Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, will be asked to form a new cabinet, according to the Palestinian law.

Source: Xinhua