Speaking at an international conference in Switzerland, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that if the people of Palestine have expressed their will by voting for Hamas, the international community should give them a chance.
Hajim Alhasani, the head of the Iraqi National Assembly, was quoted today as saying the result should be accepted. He said that isolation is bad, and groups like Hamas should be brought in to help democracy.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's leader, expressed optimism that Hamas would change if given the opportunity. He said it was much harder to agitate when a group is inside the government.
Hamas -- considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States -- won a stunning victory in elections yesterday.
(dpa)