Hamas leader to address British lawmakers

London: It promises to be one of the British Parliament's more controversial Q-and-A sessions.

The leader of the militant group Hamas plans an unprecedented video link address to British lawmakers Wednesday, hoping to spur debate on the need for the West to talk to his party if it wants peace in the Middle East.

Khaled Mashaal, who's living in exile in Syria, will answer questions for lawmakers inside a Parliament meeting room, an event organizers hope will convince European governments to review policy toward Hamas. But the idea will likely find little support in Western capitals.

Diplomats say it's the first time in recent history, and possibly ever, that a leader of a banned group is to address Parliament.

Britain, along with the US and the EU considers Hamas a terrorist organization.