Hamas will ask Saudi Arabia to continue support

Mohammad Nazzal, a Hamas leader in exile, told Reuters by telephone from Egypt the delegation would be led by Hamas's top leader, Khaled Meshaal, and meet Saudi King Abdullah.

It will be the first official visit by a Hamas delegation to the kingdom since 1998.

"Hamas appreciates the Saudi position that always supported the Palestinian people," Nazzal said. "We will seek the continuation of political and financial support from our brothers in Saudi Arabia."

Israel froze tax revenue transfers to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority starting this month in a bid to isolate Hamas, which won the January 25 Palestinian election. The tax revenues are worth around $50-55 million a month.

Palestinians depend on foreign aid totaling more than $1 billion a year. It is unclear how much of that money would be withheld by international donors once Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, forms a government.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has been one of the biggest financial backers of the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas, which under Palestinian law has until the end of the month to put together an administration, held an inconclusive round of coalition talks on Thursday with President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction, officials from both groups said.

Later, Abbas met Hamas's choice for prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, in Gaza. It was the second time they have held consultations since Hamas's election victory.

"Hamas is expected to present President Abbas tomorrow or the day after with an official written response to the letter of accreditation he handed to Mr Haniyeh (last month) to form the government," Abbas adviser Nabil Abu Rdainah said.

In the letter, Abbas urged Haniyeh to form a government that would seek peace with Israel.

Haniyeh, in comments quoted by the Saudi newspaper al-Madina, said Hamas would brief Saudi leaders "about political developments on the ground, and the difficulties suffered by the Palestinian people, asking them to continue their positions."

Hamas leaders have been on a tour of Arab and other countries seeking support after their election win.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal publicly spurned a U.S. call to isolate Hamas during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month.

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