'Jimmy Carter planning to meet Mashaal'

Report: Former president will talk to Hamas leader in April; Carter spokeswoman doesn't deny report.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Carter 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Carter 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Former US president Jimmy Carter is planing to visit Syria in April and meet with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, the London-based daily Al-Hayat reported Wednesday. According to a report on FOXNews.com, Carter's press secretary Deanna Congileo would not deny that the former president was planning to go to Syria to meet Mashaal during his visit to the Middle East. "President Carter is planning a trip to the Mideast next week; however, we are still confirming details of the trip and will issue a press release by the end of this week," Congileo told FOXNews.com. "I cannot confirm any specific meetings at this point in time." According to the report in Al-Hayat, Carter will be representing the Carter Center during his visit to Syria, and will not be traveling in his capacity of former president of the United States. The US State Department considers Hamas a terrorist organization.