PARIS, June 16 (Reuters) - Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has ruled out setting up a separate Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip after his Islamists routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Asked if he intended to declare Gaza a state after taking control of the territory, Haniyeh said in an interview with France's Le Figaro daily published on Saturday: "No. Gaza belongs to all the Palestinian people and not just Hamas."

Haniyeh, who has refused to accept his dismissal as prime minister by Abbas on Friday, added: "Separation is not on the agenda and never will be."

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