We will target Sharon, not US, says Hamas

THE new leader of Hamas said yesterday the group had no plans to attack American targets but would try to kill Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in retaliation for the death of their spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Hamas had made veiled threats it would target the US in retaliation for Sheikh Yassin's killing. But Abdel Aziz Rantissi, a doctor named as Hamas's new Gaza chief on Tuesday, said the group's militant activities were aimed solely at Israel, which it has pledged to destroy and replace with an Islamic state.

"We are inside Palestinian land and acting only inside Palestinian land. We are resisting the occupation, nothing else," Dr Rantissi said. The hardliner also denied reports Hamas would join with al-Qaida, calling the claims "Zionist propaganda".