Russia said on Thursday it will respect the choice of the Palestinian people in their parliamentary elections, which was swept by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

Russia has "always respected and will respect the democratic choice of the Palestinian people," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in statement.

"But naturally, it will be of fundamental importance that all participants in the Palestinian political process should be committed to peacefully fulfilling the internationally recognized expectations of the Palestinian people," the ministry said.

"The elections have vividly demonstrated that the Palestinians are in a position to carry out large-scale and important tasks independently and in interaction with Israel," it added.

In a surprising election victory for the militant group, Hamas won 76 seats and the ruling Fatah movement got 43 in the 132- member legislative council, according to preliminary official results announced Thursday evening.

Source: Xinhua