US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice held talks Monday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei in Berlin.
Rice, who held the talks during a trip that also is focusing on Iraq, renewed U.S. backing for a Palestinian state ahead of the meeting. She said in a television interview Sunday that she would tell Qurei the Palestinians must build "accountable political and economic institutions" under a prime minister with full authority.
"We are ready to be full partners with the Palestinians in doing that," she told Germany's ARD television. "We need movement from the Palestinians on those elements of the road map."
On his part, Qorui urged Rice to pressure Israel to halt plans to destroy hundreds of homes in the southern Gaza Strip. "At the beginning of the meeting they discussed the escalation in Rafah and Abu Alaa (Qurei) asked Dr. Rice and the US to intervene to stop this operation to destroy the houses," the Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat told AFP.
During the weekend, Qurei met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
