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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bush optimistic of Mid-East peace | Bush optimistic of Mid-East peace |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President George W Bush has said he is still optimistic there will be a Middle East peace deal before he leaves office despite stalled negotiations. | US President George W Bush has said he is still optimistic there will be a Middle East peace deal before he leaves office despite stalled negotiations. |
| Mr Bush said there was still plenty of time to broker an agreement in the 10 months remaining. | Mr Bush said there was still plenty of time to broker an agreement in the 10 months remaining. |
| Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas broke off contacts with Israel after its Gaza raid killed more than 110 Palestinians. Three Israelis have also been killed. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas broke off contacts with Israel after its Gaza raid killed more than 110 Palestinians. Three Israelis have also been killed. |
| Mr Abbas said a ceasefire was needed before the talks could progress. | Mr Abbas said a ceasefire was needed before the talks could progress. |
| Speaking after holding talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah, he urged Israel to "halt its aggression so the necessary environment can be created". | Speaking after holding talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah, he urged Israel to "halt its aggression so the necessary environment can be created". |
| Ms Rice said she had been concerned about the recent violence, but urged the Palestinian Authority to resume talks with the Israeli government as soon as possible. | Ms Rice said she had been concerned about the recent violence, but urged the Palestinian Authority to resume talks with the Israeli government as soon as possible. |
| The two sides have been attempting to negotiate a peace deal since the US-sponsored conference at Annapolis late last year, which set out the aim to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel by the end of 2008. | The two sides have been attempting to negotiate a peace deal since the US-sponsored conference at Annapolis late last year, which set out the aim to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel by the end of 2008. |