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Rice meets Palestinian president Rice commits to Mid-East roadmap
(about 2 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of her bid to revive the roadmap to peace. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held "very fruitful" talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in her bid to revive the roadmap to peace.
The two met in Ramallah, a day after Ms Rice said a "creative" solution was needed to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking in Ramallah, Ms Rice said the US was deeply committed to the roadmap, and to creating a Palestinian state.
Arab governments are thought to want a greater US engagement in the conflict in return for support over Iraq. Arab governments are thought to want a greater US engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in return for support over Iraq.
But ruling Palestinian party Hamas accused Ms Rice of taking sides.
A Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhum, said her visit was serving only to "support one side [of] the Palestinian people against other".
Ms Rice did not plan to meet any representative of the Hamas government during her visit.
Support for Abbas
Hamas and Mr Abbas's Fatah organisation have been at loggerheads since Hamas won last year's election and lost Western funding for the Palestinian territories over its refusal to recognise Israel.
MID-EAST CONFLICT Palestinian unity call Mid-East awaits Rice answers Send us your comments
Earlier, Ms Rice said that extremist forces were attempting to "make it impossible to have the kind of Middle East in which Israelis and Palestinians and other people of the Middle East can live in peace and in which democracy can make progress".
Correspondents say Ms Rice's comments relate to efforts to shore up Mr Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas.
Ms Rice later travels to Amman for dinner with Jordan's King Abdullah.Ms Rice later travels to Amman for dinner with Jordan's King Abdullah.
She will then meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Monday.She will then meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Monday.
Ms Rice has admitted that she did not head to the Middle East with any specific plan to end the lingering conflict.
She met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Saturday, and declared her hope that some solution could be found.
"This is a very important and challenging time in the Middle East, but a time that I believe does have promise if we exercise our responsibilities with creativity and with resolve."
Extremists
Ms Rice's trip will also take her to a series of Arab capitals in an attempt to drum up support for President George W Bush's new strategy in Iraq.Ms Rice's trip will also take her to a series of Arab capitals in an attempt to drum up support for President George W Bush's new strategy in Iraq.
MID-EAST CONFLICT Palestinian unity call Mid-East awaits Rice answers Send us your comments The BBC's Katya Adler, in Jerusalem, says Arab states have made it clear - if the US wants their support in Iraq it must engage more in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Ms Livni, Ms Rice said they were discussing how to push forward the international peace plan for the Middle East, known as the roadmap.
"It is a time when extremist forces are attempting to make it impossible to have the kind of Middle East in which Israelis and Palestinians and other people of the Middle East can live in peace, and in which democracy can make progress," Ms Rice said.
Correspondents say Ms Rice's comments relate to efforts to shore up Mr Abbas in an ongoing power struggle with the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
"We are determined to resist their efforts, but also to strengthen the hands of those who wish to resist their efforts," she said.
Iraq strategyIraq strategy
Ms Rice's week-long tour will also take in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.Ms Rice's week-long tour will also take in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Ms Rice has said Arab leaders have every incentive to help as a stable Iraq is also in their interests.Ms Rice has said Arab leaders have every incentive to help as a stable Iraq is also in their interests.
Both President Bush and Ms Rice have said this week that they intend to step up measures against those threatening to destabilise Iraq.Both President Bush and Ms Rice have said this week that they intend to step up measures against those threatening to destabilise Iraq.
Mr Bush announced an increase in US troop numbers in an effort to defeat extremists and insurgents in Iraq.Mr Bush announced an increase in US troop numbers in an effort to defeat extremists and insurgents in Iraq.
Ms Rice has warned that the US would oppose any Iranian or Syrian interference in Iraq, and said the US would not let either country continue activities that endangered American soldiers in Iraq.Ms Rice has warned that the US would oppose any Iranian or Syrian interference in Iraq, and said the US would not let either country continue activities that endangered American soldiers in Iraq.