SALEH MEETS MASHAAL

SANA'A, June 01 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh met on Tuesday
a delegation of the Palestinian Hamas movement led by Khalid
Mashaal, currently visiting Yemen.

During the meeting, Mashaal briefed Saleh on the latest developments
in Palestine and the efforts of the Palestinian-Palestinian
reconciliation.

He also talked about the suffering of the Palestinian people in the
Gaza Strip in light of Israel's tightened blockade of 1.5 million
Palestinians living in Gaza.

President Saleh and Mashaal also discussed the repercussions of the
Israeli attack against the pro-Palestinian activist flotilla.

The President renewed Yemen's condemnation for this heinous crime
done by the Israeli forces.

Saleh also called on the UN Security Council to punch all those who
involved in this crime, reiterating Yemen's calls to end the Israel
blockade on Gaza.

"There is a need for a strong Arabic position for alleviating the
challenges that the Palestinians face in the Gaza Strip", said
Saleh, hailing the courageous stand of Turkey for propping up the
Palestinian right.

He also affirmed the importance of achieving a
Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation in order to serve the
Palestinian people's cause.

For his part, Mashaal praised Yemen's attitudes towards the
Palestinian case.

Israeli forces have attacked the pro-Palestinian activist flotilla
that was carrying aid supplies for the people in the Gaza strip
under Israeli blockade since 2007.

Almost nine activists of those who were onboard the ship convoy
carrying aid supplies to the people in the strip were killed and
others were injured when Israeli troops boarded the convoy and
opened fire on them.

FJ/YA