Bush to meet Abbas on Sep 20, says Palestine

Ramallah, Sept 16: US President George W Bush will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday in New York to push forward peace talks but rejects Abbas's planned unity government with Hamas, a Palestinian official said.

''We agreed to pursue the talks on all issues with President Bush and (Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice,'' Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat said after meeting US Consul-General Jacob Walles.

Erekat said Abbas would meet Bush in New York during his visit to the UN General Assembly. Palestinian officials said Walles told them the US leadership rejects Abbas's deal with the Hamas militant group to form a unity government.

REUTERS

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