China denies extending invitation to Zahar

Chinese embassy spokesman Lu Jing on Tuesday denied Hamas Palestinian Authority foreign minister Mahmoud al-Zahar's claim that he had been invited to China. "No, never," Lu replied when asked if Beijing had followed Turkey and Russia's lead and invited a high-ranking Hamas official for talks in Beijing. He also said he did not know of any intention to invite a Hamas official in the near future. Zahar, after meeting in Gaza with Yang Wei Guo, the Chinese representative to the PA, told reporters he was going to China.