Sheikh Yassin to visit Arab, Islamic capitals

Palestinian sources from the Hamas movement confirmed that Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin will pay a visit to Syria soon within an Arab and Islamic tour.

The sources said the visit aims at coordination with Arab and Islamic countries and mediating between Hamas and the Palestinian government to prevent disputes between the two from getting out of hand.

The sources said Sheikh Yassin will ask the leaders of the countries he is to visit, Syria, Lebanon and Iran, to mediate with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to release Hamas detainees and to ease Palestinian tensions.

The sources also stated that Hamas threats of revenge in the heart of Tel Aviv after bomb maker Muhyeddine al-Sharif's murder will be a sort of warning to the Israeli Mossad not to think again of assassinating any Hamas leaders.

Hamas blames Israel for Sharif's death. Tensions arose with the Palestinian government when Palestinian officials said Hamas internal conflicts led to the bomb maker's death.