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| Bush launches new Mid-East talks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President George W Bush has renewed his pledge to give the Israeli and Palestinian leaders his full support in reaching a peace deal in 2008. | |
| Mr Bush spoke after meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, as they began their first peace talks in seven years. | |
| Mr Bush said Tuesday's conference near Washington was a "hopeful beginning" for Middle East peace. | |
| Both sides agreed to hold regular talks towards creating a Palestinian state. | |
| "We will use our power to help you as you come up with the necessary decisions to lay out a Palestinian state that will live side-by-side in peace with Israel," Mr Bush said in the White House Rose Garden with Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas at his side. | |
| The meetings were intended as the launch of their first direct negotiations since 2000. The next meeting is due on 12 December in Jerusalem. | |
| In the West Bank, protests against the talks continued for a second day. | |
| KEY ISSUES Jerusalem Water Refugees Borders and settlements History of failed talks | KEY ISSUES Jerusalem Water Refugees Borders and settlements History of failed talks |
| Witnesses said Palestinian police shot into the air to disperse hundreds of mourners in Hebron, who were attending the funeral of a man killed during protests on Tuesday. | |
| At least 24 people were reported injured, one seriously, and a number of people were arrested. | At least 24 people were reported injured, one seriously, and a number of people were arrested. |
| Palestinian critics, led by the Hamas militant Islamist group which controls Gaza, say the talks were convened to prop up Mr Abbas and undermine their long-term aspirations. | Palestinian critics, led by the Hamas militant Islamist group which controls Gaza, say the talks were convened to prop up Mr Abbas and undermine their long-term aspirations. |
| Mr Abbas' government, which holds sway in the West Bank having lost control of Gaza to Hamas in June, announced a ban on public demonstrations ahead of the Annapolis meeting. | |
| Steering committee | Steering committee |
| Mr Bush on Wednesday met Mr Abbas Mr Olmert separately before getting them together for a joint session declaring the talks formally under way. | |
| It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room [in Annapolis] that you had not had from Arab states in the past Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of state Key excerpts: Speeches Reactions to Annapolis | It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room [in Annapolis] that you had not had from Arab states in the past Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of state Key excerpts: Speeches Reactions to Annapolis |
| According to the agreement, they will go on to meet every other week. | According to the agreement, they will go on to meet every other week. |
| In addition, teams of negotiators will be led by a joint steering committee which will meet for the first time on 12 December. | In addition, teams of negotiators will be led by a joint steering committee which will meet for the first time on 12 December. |
| Mr Bush - who hosted Tuesday's meeting in Annapolis - said the two sides were committed to reaching a comprehensive peace deal by the end of next year, and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. | |
| But last year's parliamentary election winner Hamas - which does not recognise Israel and has been shunned by the US and Israel as a terrorist organisation - immediately rejected Annapolis as a "failure". | But last year's parliamentary election winner Hamas - which does not recognise Israel and has been shunned by the US and Israel as a terrorist organisation - immediately rejected Annapolis as a "failure". |
| 'Core issues' | 'Core issues' |
| Expectations had been low as representatives of more than 40 countries and international agencies gathered in Annapolis ahead of Tuesday's conference. | Expectations had been low as representatives of more than 40 countries and international agencies gathered in Annapolis ahead of Tuesday's conference. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Ignoring Hamas and the Iranian regime could increase their popularity in the Arab world Shahram, Isfahan Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Ignoring Hamas and the Iranian regime could increase their popularity in the Arab world Shahram, Isfahan Send us your comments |
| But in a joint statement concluded with only minutes to spare before the conference formally opened, the two sides agreed to launch negotiations for a treaty "resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception". | But in a joint statement concluded with only minutes to spare before the conference formally opened, the two sides agreed to launch negotiations for a treaty "resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception". |
| Both sides have said those "core issues" will include the thorny so-called "final-status issues" - the future of Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees and settlements - which have scuppered previous attempts at a peace deal. | Both sides have said those "core issues" will include the thorny so-called "final-status issues" - the future of Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees and settlements - which have scuppered previous attempts at a peace deal. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed the consensus reached in Annapolis. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed the consensus reached in Annapolis. |
| "It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room that you had not had from Arab states in the past," she said on US television. | "It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room that you had not had from Arab states in the past," she said on US television. |