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Blair backs Palestinians' leader Abbas firm on Palestinian polls
(about 1 hour later)
UK PM Tony Blair has told the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, he backs his efforts to revive the stalled peace process. The leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has told British PM Tony Blair he is going to press ahead with early elections.
"Nobody should have a veto on progress," Mr Blair said during a visit to the West Bank town of Ramallah. Mr Blair, who is in the West Bank, praised the decision, which has provoked clashes between Mr Abbas' Fatah group and its rival, Hamas.
Mr Abbas meanwhile urged Mr Blair to lift an aid freeze on the Palestinians and said he was ready to hold "serious" talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. Infighting between the two has paralysed the administration.
Mr Abbas' call for early polls has led to clashes with Hamas party rivals. Mr Blair also told the Palestinian leader he backed his efforts to revive the peace process.
Fighting between Hamas and Mr Abbas' Fatah party has paralysed the administration. "Nobody should have a veto on progress," Mr Blair said.
Later on Monday, Mr Blair is due to meet the Israeli prime minister. Talks offer
Mr Abbas' call for early elections to resolve tensions between the rival factions has been labelled a "coup" by Hamas, which won a a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January and controls the government.
But the Palestinians have faced an international aid boycott since because of the group's refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel.
Armed men have been out in force in Gaza over the weekendMr Abbas said he had called for early presidential and legislative elections to relieve "the current impasse".
There have also been a series of clashes between the two groups in recent days. On Sunday, a ceasefire was reported, but outbreaks of violence continued through the night and into Monday.
"I felt it was essential to allow the people to have their say on a platform that achieves Palestinian national interests," he said.
He urged Mr Blair to lift an aid freeze on the Palestinians and said he was ready to hold "serious" talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert.
Mr Blair praised Mr Abbas and urged the international community to back a new push towards peace in the region.
"Your people are suffering," Mr Blair told Abbas. "We don't want anything to stand in the way of helping the Palestinian people."
Mr Blair is due to meet Mr Olmert later on Monday.
Lord Levy, Mr Blair's special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials.Lord Levy, Mr Blair's special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials.
Truce deal
Officials of Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, said on Sunday they had agreed a truce with Fatah, loyal to Mr Abbas.
Yet gunfire continued into the night following a day in which Gaza City saw running street battles, with mortars fired at Mr Abbas' office in Gaza City.
Monday saw fresh clashes, although no-one was killed.
Mr Abbas' call for early elections to resolve tensions between the rival factions has been labelled a "coup" by Hamas, sparking renewed fighting between the groups.
If we don't stand up and fight for the people of tolerance and moderation ... then the people of hatred and sectarianism will triumph Tony Blair Blair visits Basra troops
Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January, but has faced an international aid boycott since because of its refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel.
The current administration was elected until 2010, but the US and UK both backed Mr Abbas' call for new elections.
On Sunday, Mr Blair held a press conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, in which he said the UK would stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists.
Later he travelled to the southern city of Basra, where he met some of Britain's 7,000-strong military contingent in the country.
He has paid a visit to the troops every Christmas since the 2003 war began.