DOHA -- The Palestinian Islamic Group Hamas vowed Sunday to continue anti-Israeli martyrdom-seeking operations as long as the Zionist regime occupies Palestinian territories, AFP reported.

"We cannot stop these operations as long as the occupation lasts," Hamas spokesman Mahmud Zahar told Qatar's Al-Jazeera television, just a day after Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat denounced terror attacks on civilians.

"The continuation of these operations is a legitimate need ... to teach the occupation forces some lessons after their crimes" in the West Bank," Zahar said, describing Palestinian martyrdom-seekers as "Heroes".

"Nobody in the world accepts the American definition of terrorism," he said, playing down the importance of Sunday's meeting between Arafat and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"This meeting means nothing to us ... and (raises) not a glimmer of hope after the attitude of the United States," which he accused of bias toward Israel and its military offensive in the West Bank launched on March 29.

The U.S. State Department said Powell would see the Palestinian leader after calling off talks for Saturday.