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Rice meets Abbas in new peace bid Rice pledges US support for Abbas
(40 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is holding talks in the West Bank with Mahmoud Abbas as part of efforts to shore up the Palestinian leader. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has pledged Washington's support for beleaguered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
It comes amid a growing political crisis, after Mr Abbas said talks on forming a national unity government with Hamas had broken down. Speaking after talks with Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Ms Rice said the US had "great admiration" for his leadership.
Ms Rice is also due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Her comments came after Mr Abbas said talks with Hamas on forming a national unity government had collapsed.
Her visit, aimed at reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, is part of a wider regional trip. Ms Rice is also due to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Her visit is part of wider Middle East trip aimed at reinforcing moderate leaders and reviving the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
But the BBC's Matt Prodger in Jerusalem says neither the Israeli nor Palestinian governments are ready for negotiations with one another, and there is little expectation that the visit by Ms Rice will change that.But the BBC's Matt Prodger in Jerusalem says neither the Israeli nor Palestinian governments are ready for negotiations with one another, and there is little expectation that the visit by Ms Rice will change that.
'No dialogue''No dialogue'
Shortly before he was due to meet Ms Rice, Mr Abbas said month-long national unity talks with the Hamas-led government had collapsed.Shortly before he was due to meet Ms Rice, Mr Abbas said month-long national unity talks with the Hamas-led government had collapsed.
We have to start from square one Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian leader Rice courts moderate Arabs "There is no dialogue now," said Mr Abbas.We have to start from square one Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian leader Rice courts moderate Arabs "There is no dialogue now," said Mr Abbas.
A preliminary agreement with Hamas to form a coalition with Fatah "is now over and we have to start from square one," he added.A preliminary agreement with Hamas to form a coalition with Fatah "is now over and we have to start from square one," he added.
Mr Abbas indicated he might use his executive powers to dissolve the Hamas-led government if the stalemate continues.Mr Abbas indicated he might use his executive powers to dissolve the Hamas-led government if the stalemate continues.
The Palestinian Authority has faced a political crisis since Hamas won elections in January. Its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence triggered a Western boycott.The Palestinian Authority has faced a political crisis since Hamas won elections in January. Its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence triggered a Western boycott.
Mr Abbas has been seeking to form a coalition government with his more moderate Fatah party on a platform which would be acceptable to the international community.Mr Abbas has been seeking to form a coalition government with his more moderate Fatah party on a platform which would be acceptable to the international community.
On Tuesday, Ms Rice said the Palestinians "need a government that can engage the international community and can engage the broad consensus that a two-state solution is the answer".On Tuesday, Ms Rice said the Palestinians "need a government that can engage the international community and can engage the broad consensus that a two-state solution is the answer".
Factional fightingFactional fighting
This is Ms Rice's first trip to the region since the ceasefire in August which ended the month-long conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.This is Ms Rice's first trip to the region since the ceasefire in August which ended the month-long conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
She has already met Egyptian and Saudi leaders.She has already met Egyptian and Saudi leaders.
Many commentators believe the purpose of her trip is to illustrate US engagement in order to reassure pro-western Arab governments in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Jerusalem.Many commentators believe the purpose of her trip is to illustrate US engagement in order to reassure pro-western Arab governments in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile an 11th person has died in fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the West Bank and Gaza over the past few days.Meanwhile an 11th person has died in fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the West Bank and Gaza over the past few days.
In the latest violence, unidentified masked gunmen killed a Hamas leader in the West Bank, a day after Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militants threatened to kill senior Hamas members.In the latest violence, unidentified masked gunmen killed a Hamas leader in the West Bank, a day after Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militants threatened to kill senior Hamas members.