Sheikh Yassin denies agreement with Palestinian Authority

The spiritual leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, has denied any agreement with the Palestinian Authority to halt attacks against the Israeli occupation.

In a statement issued on Sunday to the Greek daily "Elevetere Teibya," Sheikh Yassin added that "resistance is the only language understood by Israel."

Concerning the suicide operations, Sheikh Yassin commented that the Hamas movement will not resort to such operations unless it is exposed to attacks or to assassination acts against Palestinian innocent citizens, adding that such operations will be in self-defense.

Sheikh Yassin ruled out that anything will happen on May 4, the date that marks the end of the interim phase of peace agreements between the Palestinians and Israelis, according to the Oslo agreements, and a date on which which Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is expected to announce the Palestinian state.

Sheikh Yassin said: "We have to see first what sort of state we will get and what sort of state we can talk about, while the Israelis control our borders, entrances, economy and life," adding the Hamas will never agree to the establishment of a state under occupation.

Sheikh Yassin described the arrest of the leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, as "regrettable, and painful," saying that the international "conspiracy" against Ocalan is a shame on the international community.