‘We are striving to have the international community support the peace process and make it irrevocable, including helping end the blockade’ against the Palestianian government, Lavrov told journalists.

The so-called Middle East diplomatic Quartet -- Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations -- imposed the sanctions after Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in elections last January and refused to recognize Israel or renounce violence.

Meshaal met Lavrov on the second day of a visit to Moscow aimed at marshalling support to lift the crippling sanctions, and said Russia was the next logical destination after Hamas and rival party Fatah struck a power-sharing agreement in Mecca earlier this month.

‘From the very beginning we wanted to make Moscow the first place we visited after the talks in Mecca in order to consult with you about steps that need to be taken after the Mecca agreement,’  Meshaal said.

Meshaal’s visit, his second to Moscow since the January 2006 elections, comes amid disagreement among the four Quartet powers on how to deal with the prospect of a Palestinian unity government involving both Hamas and the more moderate Fatah.

The Hamas leader also thanked Lavrov for Russia’s ‘bold steps’  in hosting the visits.

Russia is the only member of the Quartet that maintains diplomatic relations with Hamas, which is condemned in the West as a terrorist organisation.

Lavrov called the agreement to form a new Palestinian government a ‘positive step,’ saying: ‘The Russian leadership from the very beginning supported the idea of forming this kind of government.’

Both Israel and the United States oppose lifting the current embargo unless the new government recognises Israel, renounces violence and agrees to stick by past peace agreements.