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Bush meets Abbas at White House Bush and Abbas in push for peace
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush has been meeting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas amid continuing efforts to boost the Middle East peace process. US President George W Bush has met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas as he tries to boost efforts for peace in the Middle East.
Mr Abbas is seeking renewed US support for peace talks that have stalled five months after a major peace conference in Annapolis. Mr Abbas is seeking renewed US support in faltering peace talks and more international pressure on Israel.
The meeting in Washington came ahead of Mr Bush's planned trip to Israel and several Arab countries next month. After meeting Mr Abbas, Mr Bush said he remained confident about achieving the "definition" of a Palestinian state by the end of the year.
He is seeking a peace settlement before he leaves office in January. The Palestinian leader said the road to peace was "paved with obstacles".
Progress has been slow and there is deep scepticism about the chances of reaching a settlement, correspondents say. Mr Bush wants to achieve a peace settlement before he leaves office in January, a goal that was set a conference in Annapolis five months ago.
Ahead of his meeting with President Bush, Mr Abbas had said that the gaps between Palestinians and Israelis were still wide. Progress has been slow and the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says it is looking increasingly difficult for the American president to deliver on his promise.
Truce proposal 'Swiss cheese'
On Thursday Mr Bush acknowledged that any deal would require "hard work", but said he was confident that "we can achieve the definition of a state".
Mr Bush said he was committed to "a viable state, a state that doesn't look like Swiss cheese, a state that provides hope".
During his trip to Washington Mr Abbas has appealed for the Israelis to stop building settlements on disputed land so that peace talks can proceed.During his trip to Washington Mr Abbas has appealed for the Israelis to stop building settlements on disputed land so that peace talks can proceed.
The settlements were the main obstacle to peace, he said, adding that time was running out if the goals set at Annapolis were to be met. Ahead of his meeting with Mr Bush he called the settlements the main obstacle to peace, saying that that time was running out if the goals set at Annapolis were to be met.
The Palestinian leader has already held talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US lawmakers. "I cannot say that the road to peace is paved with flowers," he said after the meeting.
"It is paved with obstacles. But together, we will work very hard in order to eliminate those obstacles and achieve peace."
The meeting came ahead of President Bush's planned trip to Israel and several Arab countries next month.
Mr Abbas has already held talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US lawmakers.
The US has been trying to shore up support for Mr Abbas after the Palestinian Authority that he heads lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas.The US has been trying to shore up support for Mr Abbas after the Palestinian Authority that he heads lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas.
At the White House on Wednesday, King Abdullah of Jordan pressed for a timetable for negotiations towards Palestinian statehood, something the US has been reluctant to give.At the White House on Wednesday, King Abdullah of Jordan pressed for a timetable for negotiations towards Palestinian statehood, something the US has been reluctant to give.
In Cairo on Thursday, Hamas leaders gave Egyptian negotiators proposals for a truce in the Gaza Strip that could later be extended to the West Bank. Meanwhile in Cairo, Hamas leaders gave Egyptian negotiators proposals for a truce in the Gaza Strip that could later be extended to the West Bank.
Hamas had previously said a truce for both areas had to begin at the same time.Hamas had previously said a truce for both areas had to begin at the same time.
Egypt is expected to relay the proposals to Israel in coming days.Egypt is expected to relay the proposals to Israel in coming days.