Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, received several telephone calls congratulating him on his new role as the chief leader of Hamas as well as praising the movement's democratic experience.

Haniyeh received a phone call from Mr. Safar Turan, adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, congratulating him on his leadership of the movement and the success of its internal elections.

He was also telephoned by the Secretary General of the National Initiative, Mustafa Barghouthi, Father Manuel Muslim, and the leaders of Fatah Ahmed Helis and Zakaria Al-Agha.

Secretary-General of the Islamic Action Front in Jordan, Mohammed Al-Ziyud, and his former secretary, Hamaza Mansour, also congratulated Haniyeh.