Blair, Abbas to meet in London on Feb 21

London, Feb 21: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair today to discuss progress in the creation of a new Palestinian unity government, Blair's office said.

The two leaders are due to meet at 2215 hrs local time in London and a news conference is scheduled for 5.30p.m.

''This is an opportunity for the prime minister to discuss progress on the NUG (national unity government) and to reinforce to Abbas the need for the NUG to act in terms consistent with the quartet principles,'' a spokesman for Blair's office said.

''The key will be its behaviour. We are waiting to see what the NUG's actions are in practice,'' he said.

Europeans see the coalition deal made between Abbas and the militant group Hamas in Mecca as the best chance to avoid a Palestinian civil war, but Washington is more cautious and wants to continue its campaign to isolate Hamas.

West Asia mediators meet later today in Berlin to thrash out differences over how to deal with a new government.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in Berlin late on Tuesday, wants the quartet, comprising the United Nations, Russia, the European Union and the United States, to play a bigger role in trying to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace moves, but she also wants to keep up pressure on Hamas.

The quartet has said it will withhold judgment on the coalition until its policies are known but urged any government to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by past Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Abbas is due to travel to Berlin later on Wednesday for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In European eyes, the Mecca accord offers the best chance of avoiding a Palestinian civil war and the Quartet should not make premature judgments or slam any doors, an EU official said.

Reuters