Farrakhan says he would welcome meeting with Lieberman

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan said Monday that he would welcome a dialogue with Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, who is Jewish.

"I think it's time to have a dialogue that could lead to better relationships," said Farrakhan, who has described Jews as "bloodsuckers."

Farrakhan laughed and said," I would say he's under a great deal of pressure," when asked by a reporter for reaction to a statement from Lieberman that he would only be willing to meet with Farrakhan if there had been some change on his part.

Farrakhan said a meeting with Lieberman would be important, calling him a possible bridge between the Nation of Islam and the black Jewish population in the United States.

"I would hope a no-talk policy that was the policy for years between the Palestinians and the Israelis would not continue to be a policy today," Farrakhan said.

Farrakhan refused to endorse a candidate, criticizing the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees for not including the poor among their campaign issues.