A coalition of hardline Palestinian groups based in the Syrian capital, Damascus, has roundly condemned a prominent Palestinian leader, Nayef Hawatmeh, for shaking the hand of the Israeli President during last week's funeral ceremony of King Hussein of Jordan.

A meeting of the coalition attended by three hundred delegates has decided to suspend Mr Hawatmeh's group, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

A statement said that by shaking the hand of President Ezer Weizman and publically calling him a man of peace, Mr Hawatmeh had inflicted great damage to the Palestinian cause.