Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and four other members of the Palestinian militant Islamist group arrived in Turkey for talks yesterday. The officials said they were likely to meet Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

It is the first visit by senior Hamas officials to a non-Arab country since the group, which refuses to recognise Israel, won a Jan. 25 parliamentary election. Such a meeting is likely to anger the United States, Turkey?s NATO ally, as well as Israël because it challenges their campaign to isolate Hamas to force it to give up violence and recognise the Jewish state.

Muslim but secular Turkey has good ties with both Israel and the Palestinians and wants to play a more active role in the Middle East peace process. But Ankara is also aware of the diplomatic risks and the Foreign Ministry issued a cautiously worded statement. ?The visit is being made at the request of Hamas,? the statement said. ?In the light of the situation which emerged after the elections on Jan. 25, our views regarding the international community?s expectations (of Hamas) will be conveyed to the team in the most open way,? the ministry said.

The United States and the European Union, which Turkey aims to join, both list Hamas as a terrorist organisation. They have threatened to cut off aid to any Palestinian government run by Hamas unless the group renounces violence and abandons its commitment to Israel?s destruction.

An official said Turkey had informed the US and Israeli governments of the planned meetings in Ankara. Sources said the Hamas delegation had flown to Ankara from Damascus, where exiled Meshaal spends most of his time. Erdogan, who has roots in political Islam, has said the international community should be ready to work with Hamas after the Palestinian people voted for them in a fair election. But Ankara has also urged Hamas to renounce violence and work with Israel toward a Middle East peace settlement.

A Hamas official in Gaza said yesterday the group had received an official invitation for talks in Russia. A date has yet to be agreed.