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Rice pledges US support for Abbas Rice pledges US support for Abbas
(about 7 hours later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has pledged Washington's support for beleaguered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has pledged Washington's support for beleaguered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking after meeting Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Ms Rice said the US had "great admiration" for his leadership.Speaking after meeting Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Ms Rice said the US had "great admiration" for his leadership.
Her comments came after Mr Abbas said talks with Hamas on forming a national unity government had collapsed.Her comments came after Mr Abbas said talks with Hamas on forming a national unity government had collapsed.
Ms Rice is also due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Ms Rice later dined with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.
She had no contact with Hamas officials during her trip.
Her visit is part of a wider Middle East trip aimed at reinforcing support for moderate leaders.Her visit is part of a wider Middle East trip aimed at reinforcing support for moderate leaders.
But the BBC's state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says while Ms Rice poured praise on the Palestinian leader, she appeared to have little to offer him.But the BBC's state department correspondent Jonathan Beale says while Ms Rice poured praise on the Palestinian leader, she appeared to have little to offer him.
She said the US wanted to do more and was discussing how to facilitate a meeting between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas.She said the US wanted to do more and was discussing how to facilitate a meeting between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas.
But, our correspondent says, there was no indication that the US had a plan to restart the peace process.But, our correspondent says, there was no indication that the US had a plan to restart the peace process.
Humanitarian plightHumanitarian plight
At a joint news conference in Ramallah, Ms Rice reiterated Washington's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.At a joint news conference in Ramallah, Ms Rice reiterated Washington's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
There is no dialogue now Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian leader Rice courts moderate Arabs "You have the strong commitment of the United States to that cause and the personal commitment of me and the personal commitment of the president," she told Mr Abbas.There is no dialogue now Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian leader Rice courts moderate Arabs "You have the strong commitment of the United States to that cause and the personal commitment of me and the personal commitment of the president," she told Mr Abbas.
She said the US was very concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza, and promised to "redouble our efforts to improve the conditions for the Palestinian people".She said the US was very concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza, and promised to "redouble our efforts to improve the conditions for the Palestinian people".
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Ms Rice's focus on this trip has been both to bolster Mr Abbas but also to try to secure some safety valve for the tensions building up in the Palestinian territories - not least by getting the Israelis to open some of the border crossings that are essential to the Palestinians' economic well-being.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Ms Rice's focus on this trip has been both to bolster Mr Abbas but also to try to secure some safety valve for the tensions building up in the Palestinian territories - not least by getting the Israelis to open some of the border crossings that are essential to the Palestinians' economic well-being.
But, he says, the Israelis have a price - better security and the return of their abducted soldier, held by Palestinian militants since June.But, he says, the Israelis have a price - better security and the return of their abducted soldier, held by Palestinian militants since June.
Talks failTalks fail
Mr Abbas meanwhile said talks with Hamas to form a national unity government had collapsed.Mr Abbas meanwhile said talks with Hamas to form a national unity government had collapsed.
"There is no dialogue now," he said. "I have also said that dialogue cannot continue forever."There is no dialogue now," he said. "I have also said that dialogue cannot continue forever.
"Therefore, we have to think long and hard about what we are going to do and what is the next step going to be.""Therefore, we have to think long and hard about what we are going to do and what is the next step going to be."
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.
Over the past month, 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.Over the past month, 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.
The Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, criticised Ms Rice's visit, saying the secretary of state "cares only to rearrange this region and to rearrange the Palestinian scene in a way that serves the American and Israeli agenda".The Hamas Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, criticised Ms Rice's visit, saying the secretary of state "cares only to rearrange this region and to rearrange the Palestinian scene in a way that serves the American and Israeli agenda".
A flare-up of fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the West Bank and Gaza over the past few days claimed an 11th life on Wednesday.A flare-up of fighting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the West Bank and Gaza over the past few days claimed an 11th life on Wednesday.
Unidentified masked gunmen killed a Hamas leader in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, a day after Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militants threatened to kill senior Hamas members.Unidentified masked gunmen killed a Hamas leader in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, a day after Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militants threatened to kill senior Hamas members.