Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas paid a brief visit to Jordan's King Abdullah II to mark the Islamic feast of Id al-Fitr on Tuesday, Jordan's official news agency reported.

The king pledged Jordan's support for the Palestinian people and "efforts to get sanctions lifted so that the Palestinians could overcome the difficult circumstances they now face," Petra reported.

International aid to the Palestinian Authority has virtually dried up since Hamas took power following its victory in January's legislative elections.

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Donor countries such as the United States and European Union insist that Hamas renounce violence and recognize Israel, but the party has rejected these conditions.

Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit attended the meeting at the palace in Amman, where the leaders discussed Abbas's efforts to form a national unity government consisting of Hamas and members of his Fatah party.

Abbas was expected to return to the West Bank town of Ramallah after the visit, according a Palestinian diplomat in Amman who spoke on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media.