Rice holds peace talks with Abbas, Olmert

The US secretary of state wants Israel and Palestine to reaffirm their support for the Washington-backed peace plan.

The United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began peace talks on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

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The three-way meeting, the first of its kind for several years, is aimed at reviving the stalled West Asia peace process, but has been clouded by battles over the formation of a Palestinian unity government.

American officials said the three were initially meeting alone, except for interpreters, but that the talks could be expanded if the participants wished.