U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that Washington's position toward Hamas has not changed despite the fact that the group has won Palestinian elections.

Hamas is seen as a terrorist group by Washington as well as Israel and the European Union.

"You cannot have one foot in politics and the other in terror," Rice told a World Economic Forum session by videolink.

She offered her congratulations to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian people on peaceful elections that were "by all accounts fair."

"The Palestinian people have apparently voted for change, but we believe that 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."

Leaders from Muslim countries present at the forum session, however, took a different attitude toward Hamas, saying the world should respect the victory of Hamas.

"If the people of Palestine have expressed their will by voting for Hamas, we should respect it and give Hamas a chance to prove itself while in government," Afghan President Hamid Karzai told the session.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf echoed Karzai at the same session: "The reality is that Hamas has won. It has been chosen by the people, so we should accept that reality."

Musharraf said the outside world should put pressure on both a Hamas administration in Palestine and Israel to work together. Israel should be urged to accept the reality of a Palestinian homeland. Hamas, as a radical movement, could prove to be the power that can bring peace. "Let us give Hamas a chance," he added.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the Hamas in government is different from the Hamas in the streets. "If Hamas is going to form the government, in the seat of authority, having the responsibility to govern, to negotiate, to reach peace, it's different from Hamas the organization whose people are in the streets."

Iraqi National Assembly President Hajim Alhasani said bringing Hamas into the political process should serve democracy. "There will be pressure on them to modernize and be democratic, or they will be out of the political game," he told the session.

In response to questions from panelists at Davos, Rice also addressed the Iranian nuclear issue and affirmed the U.S. government's determination to refer the issue to the UN Security Council.

"There will be many options available to the Security Council, but we believe that that is only the start of a new phase of diplomacy," she said.

Source: Xinhua