Abbas not to hold bilateral talks with Iran

Ramallah, Aug 30 (IANS) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not hold bilateral talks with Iran during his stay in Tehran, a Palestinian official said Thursday.

Abbas arrived in Iran Wednesday for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, said Majdi Al Khalidi, his diplomatic adviser, reported Xinhua.

The Palestinian delegation to the summit will work on seeking confirmation that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people," Al Khalidi said, adding that they will also seek support for Palestinians' bid for UN membership.

The relation between the Palestinian National Authority and Iran is tense, as the Iranian government supports the rival Palestinian Hamas government, which took over the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Earlier this week, Abbas threatened to boycott the summit after Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh announced that he was also invited by Iran to attend the NAM.

Tehran later said only Abbas was invited to attend the summit from Palestine.