US envoy meets Palestinian PM

Sounding out Israeli and Palestinian leaders before the arrival in Israel of Secretary of State Colin Powell, a senior United States envoy met Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas yesterday.

Assistant Secretary of State William Burns said both sides had to fulfil obligations under a new Middle East peace plan for it to succeed.

Disagreements on the plan, known as the road map, already have emerged in the discussions between the envoy and Israeli and Palestinian officials. Burns has told them they should resolve their differences in direct talks.

After meeting Abbas in Ramallah, Burns said the internationally backed peace plan, which envisions a Palestinian state by 2005, required action by both sides.