Hamas/United States: Hamas chief says U.S. must follow its words.

Section: General News - Khaled Meshaal, exiled chief of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement, said on Thursday his group welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama's "new language" towards the Islamic group, but said the United States has to follow its words, pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.

In a televised speech, Meshaal told his supporters in Damascus that the recent speech by Obama to the Muslim world is "a step in the right direction." In a speech to the Muslim world in Cairo earlier this month, Obama insisted that Hamas has to recognize Israel and renounce violence, while indicating that Hamas could involve in the Mideast peace process.

Meshaal described Obama's …