Moussa Abu Marzouk, the Hamas deputy Politburo chief, told the movement's official website that "the reports were media speculation and contrary to the facts on the ground."

Abu Marzouk said that "these baseless reports said once that we are moving to Qatar, another time to Egypt and now to Jordan." He said that "Hamas leadership is still in Syria and working at the movement's headquarters in Damascus as usual without any change."

The London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported earlier that the majority of Hamas leaders, including Abu Marzouk, have left Damascus for several countries after tension between the movement and the Syrian regime reached its peak. The report said that Jordan agreed to allow Abu Marzouk entry on condition he would avoid engaging in political activity on its territory.

The report said that Qatar is holding talks with Jordan to take in Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Meshaal. the Hamas leadership was deported from Jordan about a decade ago before settling in Syria.

The daily quoted a source as saying that Syrian President Bashar Assad has refused to meet with Meshaal after the latter called for reforms in Syria following crackdown on opposition protesters.