Sinn Fein leader in peace mission

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Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is to embark on a peace mission to the Middle East, the party has said.

Mr Adams is heading to Israel and the Palestinian Authority territories at the invitation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He said "genuine negotiation and dialogue" were imperative.

"While no two conflicts are identical there are key conflict resolution principles which can be applied in any situation," he said.

"These include inclusive dialogue, respect for electoral mandates and respect for human rights and international law."

Israel has been conducting military operations in the coastal Gaza Strip since Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier in June.

Aid frozen

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed while 11 Israeli civilians have been wounded by rocket fire from Gaza.

The Sinn Fein president is travelling to the Middle East on Tuesday and will meet with Mr Abbas and members of the Palestine Legislative Council, including Hamas.

Hamas, which forms the current Palestinian administration, is banned by the EU and US and branded a terrorist group.

Earlier this year the US and EU froze aid to the Palestinian Authority because Hamas has refused to renounce violence and recognise Israel.

Mr Adams said the Sinn Fein leadership had shared their experience of the Northern Ireland peace process "with those seeking peaceful alternatives to conflict both in the Basque country and Sri Lanka".

The West Belfast MP led his party into a devolved government in Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement was brokered in 1998.