Washington - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an exclusive interview Saturday in the Washington Post, blamed the policy of isolating the radical Islamst movement Hamas as a reason for the ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan, who was Thursday the centre of controversy at the World Economic Forum in Davos after an angry exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres, argued for engaging Hamas in the Mideast process.

Ankara - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday repeated his harsh criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza following his dramatic walk out at a World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday night.

Erdogan denied that his walking out during a debate with Israeli President Shimon Peres was a diplomatic mistake, instead complaining of the way he, as the prime minister of Turkey, was treated during the debate.

Gaza City - The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas Friday hailed Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyib Erdogan's stand at the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing it as "brave."

Tehran - Iran on Friday hailed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his row with Israeli President Shimon Peres over the Gaza Strip at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"We thank Mr Erdogan and hail what he did in Davos," said former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani at a Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran. "This attitude exploded in the world like a bomb."

Tel Aviv/Davos - Israeli President Shimon Peres said Friday he regretted the incident at the World Economic Forum in Davos the day before when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a debate over the Gaza Strip issue.

The Haaretz newspaper's internet site said Peres had made a telephone call with Erdogan Friday morning and assured him that he was "very sorry" about the incident.

"Friends can have disputes among each other," Peres reportedly told the Turkish premier. "I have always had great respect for the Turkish Republic and for you as its prime minister."

Ankara/Davos, Switzerland  - Thousands of Turks gathered early Friday morning to welcome home Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Thursday night stormed out of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos after a heated exchange with Israeli President Shimon Peres.