Hamas denies seeking presence in Algeria

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has denied reports over asking Algeria to host some of the group leaders amid a Gulf crisis between Qatar and Arab neighbors.

Last week, the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper, citing Palestinian sources, said Hamas was seeking to have a presence in Algeria.

The daily claimed that the move came after Hamas leaders were forced out of Qatar, which is being boycotted by four Arab states, who accuse Doha of supporting terrorism.

The newspaper said that Hamas has made an official request to Algeria to have a presence in the country. Algeria has yet to respond to the request.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, however, dismissed the report as untrue.

"For Algeria, we don't need a presence since the question of Palestine and Hamas is engraved in the heart of every Algerian citizen," he said during a conference marking the unity between Algeria's Movement for the Society of Peace and Taghyir Front on Saturday.

"We are proud of this country and its leadership, and we do not need leaders to represent us here," Abu Zuhri stressed.

Algeria is one of Arab states that refused to classify Hamas or the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.