Egypt agrees to host Middle East peace talks
Egypt has endorsed a US proposal to host key international players to follow up on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the country’s presidential spokesman said today.
Suleiman Awwad said US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice had asked Egypt to invite Israeli and Palestinian leaders and members of the Quartet of Mideast mediators to meet before US president George Bush’s term ends in January.
Mr Bush has expressed hope for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before the end of the year, but Egypt and many other countries have voiced scepticism at the possibility.
Mr Bush hosted a high-profile peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last November that drew 44 nations. Progress towards a peace deal has been limited, however.
