The spiritual leader of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, on Friday rejected the deal reached between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat at the Wye Plantation talks, saying: "We will continue to fight" .

The following is the text of Yasin's comments to reporters in Gaza, broadcast by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV: "We say that any agreement that does not lead to the removal of occupation from all the Palestinian occupied territory and to granting our people their rights, freedom and independence is worthless and pointless.

"Any agreement that maintains occupation, with its settlements and troops; that keeps our prisoners in jail; and that keeps Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque imprisoned, is worthless.

Hamas will spearhead the liberation of Jerusalem "Hamas will remain alive.

God willing, it will continue the struggle and will continue to fight.

Hamas will, God willing, remain the pioneer and the spearhead for the Arab and Muslim nations to liberate Palestine, Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem."