WASHINGTON, Feb 25: US President George Bush suggested on Friday that having to govern might have ‘a moderating influence’ on the Hamas in the wake of its victory in Palestinian elections.

“As democracy takes root, the responsibilities of governing will have a moderating influence on those who assume power in free elections. It’s easier to be a martyr than a mayor or a minister,” he said. Mr Bush’s remarks came in a wide-ranging speech in which he defended his push for spreading democracy in the Middle East from critics who say the victory by Hamas harms US national security as well as Israel.

“When you’re responsible for building roads and bridges and power stations and educating people and providing health, you’re less likely to blow up health clinics and schools and bridges,” he said.

“In democracies, elected leaders must deliver real change in people’s lives or the voters will boot them out at the next election time. It’s a lesson that the leaders of Hamas will now have to learn,” he said.

“The leaders of Hamas have a choice to make: If they want the help of America and the international community to build a prosperous, independent Palestinian state, they must recognise Israel, disarm, reject terrorism and work for lasting peace,” he said.

“The international community must continue to make clear to Hamas that democratically elected leaders cannot have one foot in the camp of democracy and one foot in the camp of terror,” said Mr Bush.

“The world is waiting to see what choice Hamas makes,” said Mr Bush, who has warned of US aid cuts to the Palestinians if Hamas fails to meet his conditions.

US SUPPORT FOR ABBAS: The US Middle East envoy on Saturday reiterated Washington’s support for Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and his policies, but did not extend that to an eventual government led by Hamas.

Speaking after talks with Mr Abbas, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch said: “We had a chance to discuss all the issues and the relationship between the United States and President Abbas.

“I told him of our support for him and his leadership in this critical time facing the Palestinian people. I reaffirmed our confidence in the program that he laid out before the PLC (Palestinian Legislative Council) in his speech, where he called for a negotiated, two-stage” peace settlement.

A reporter asked Mr Welch what the US position was toward Hamas. Mr Welch did not answer, instead turning to go to his car.

But afterwards, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Mr Abbas had told the envoy that the United States ‘must respect the democratic choice of the Palestinians’.

Mr Abbas also ‘spoke about the latest escalation and asked Welch to seek US government to put pressure on Israel to stop.”

Mr Welch’s trip comes amid a spike in Israeli-Palestinian violence, which has seen 12 Palestinians killed this week. Mr Abbas has already called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation.

Saturday’s talks came amid signs that the US government is open to giving Hamas time to moderate its fiercely anti-Israeli stance. President George Bush has warned there could be an aid cut-off if Hamas does not do so.

In another interview, with an Israeli television network, Mr Abbas said Hamas was already trying to halt rocket attacks from Gaza and urged Israelis to give the militant group more time to set out its programme for government.—AFP