W. Asia peace talks to resume

JERUSALEM, JUNE 16. Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to restart the suspended peace talks in Washington, ahead of a visit by the U.S. Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, to West Asia, Israel has said.

Palestinian negotiators had on Wednesday called off negotiations on one of the two channels of peace talks in the U.S., saying Israel had failed to meet obligations on Palestinian prisoners and a third withdrawal from West Bank. ``The United States, Israel and the Palestinians agreed this evening to a resumption of the talks. Therefore, the two teams will not return home tonight but will stay in Washington for a number of additional days,'' the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak's Office said in a statement.

It gave no reasons for the renewal of the interim peace talks, but Palestinians had said they wanted to wait to consult with the Palestinian President, Mr. Yasser Arafat, who arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. Mr. Barak's office said the U.S. envoy, Mr. Dennis Ross, would visit Israel at the beginning of next week, followed by Ms Albright towards the end of the week, ``to examine if conditions are right for a meeting of the leaders''.

Israeli-Palestinian talks began in the U.S. on Tuesday aimed at laying the basis for a peace deal between the two sides.

- Reuters

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Section  : International
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