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Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting' Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting'
(about 1 hour later)
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for "unconditional" talks with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for an "unconditional" meeting with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair.
Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions.Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions.
Mr Blair said there was a "window of opportunity" for the two sides to engage in negotiations. Mr Blair stressed the importance of the Palestinians forming a government of national unity that recognised Israel.
He said the road map for peace had taken a backward step in recent months. There was a "window of opportunity" for both sides to engage in talks, he said.
'Possibility of re-engagement' We have a plan to get there - the roadmap UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
Mr Blair said the international community was ready to deal with a Palestinian government of national unity if it withdrew from the anti-Israeli policies of Hamas, which gained control of the Palestinian parliament in elections in January. The UK prime minister was speaking after meeting Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Mr Blair acknowledged that relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are particularly bad right now, says the BBC's Alan Johnston, in Ramallah.
More than 200 Palestinians have died in recent fighting, many of them civilians.
Nonetheless, Mr Blair urged the two sides to work to revive the peace process, and he committed himself to supporting any such effort.
"So far as I am concerned, this issue, which I believe passionately in, will be as important as any other priority for me in the time that remains for me in office," he said.
Mr Blair also urged Palestinians to form a government of national unity, which the international community could then deal with.
Western countries have been boycotting the Hamas-led government elected in January, because of Hamas' violent anti-Israeli stance.
Correspondents say Mr Blair's remarks are the first suggestion that a broader Palestinian government, which still included Hamas, would be acceptable.
"I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Mr Blair said."I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Mr Blair said.
The Quartet of Middle East peace brokers - the US, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - has boycotted the Hamas-led government, cutting off vital funds. But in a statement issued shortly after the Blair-Abbas news conference, Hamas rejected calls to moderate its anti-Israeli position.
Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group was ready to ready to form a coalition government with the more moderate Fatah movement, but "not according to standards that are dictated".
Mid-East tour
For his part, the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, said that he welcomed the prospect of talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert.
Following a meeting with Mr Blair on Saturday, Mr Olmert had said that he was prepared to meet the Palestinian side, something that the Palestinians have been pressing for many months.
Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East.Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.
'Dialogue'
"He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue.""He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue."
Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon.Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month.A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month.
The prime minister's visit to the Middle East comes amid the continuing row over when he leaves office.
Mr Blair said the stability of the Middle East was essential to the rest of the world, including the UK.