Secret peace talks on West Asia

JERUSALEM, MAY 13. Israeli soldiers and Palestinian demonstrators clashed throughout the west bank as negotiators remained stuck on key aspects of a final peace deal they hope to reach by September.

Israeli radios reported yesterday that the Public Security Minister, Mr. Shlomo Ben-Ami, was leading secret peace talks with the Palestinians in Europe in an apparent effort to breathe life into the negotiations.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak's office would not comment on the reports, and Palestinian officials refused to react to them.

No progress was reported in a meeting between heads of the negotiation teams overnight in the West Bank city of Jericho to discuss efforts at a final peace agreement.The Palestinian leader, Mr. Yasser Arafat's Cabinet meeting in Ramallah yesterday, said nothing had been achieved in the final status talks since they began in September last year.

- AP

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Section  : International
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