World Bulletin / News Desk 

Palestinian resistance faction Hamas has welcomed a decision by Egypt's State Lawsuits Authority, the government's legal arm, to appeal a ruling by a local court labeling it a "terrorist organization."

"The move is a step in the right direction and a political admission by the authorities in Egypt that the ruling was a major mistake and should be rectified," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told.

"We hope to see the appeal accepted so that the ruling's implications are reversed," he added, reiterating that the group did not interfere in the domestic affairs of any Arab country, including Egypt.

Earlier Wednesday, the State Lawsuits Authority filed the appeal with Cairo's Court for Urgent Matters, which set March 28 to begin hearing it.

The same court late last month designated Hamas a "terrorist" group over claims that it had carried out attacks in Egypt via tunnels linking the Sinai Peninsula to the blockaded Gaza Strip.