Sudan has reaffirmed its support for the radical Palestinian group, Hamas, during a visit to Khartoum by the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

After talks with Sheikh Yassin, President al-Bashir said Sudan would continue to back what he called Hamas's holy war.

The Speaker of the Sudanese Parliament, Hassan al-Turabi, called for Arab unity to confront what he called Israeli intransigence.

Sheikh Yassin, who opposes the peace accords with Israel, has been touring Arab countries to gather support for Hamas.