Abbas postpones his visit to Moscow

Moscow, June 15 (UNI) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed his visit to here due to the escalation of tensions in the Palestinian Territories, a Russian diplomatic source told Interfax news agency today.

''Mr Abbas' June 19-21 visit to Moscow has been postponed, following a flare-up of tensions within the Palestinian Territories,'' to the source said.

Mr Abbas declared a state of emergency and dissolved the government after six days of gun battles, in which Hamas fighters wrested control of key Fatah strongholds in Gaza.

A new date for Abbas' visit to Moscow, will be announced later, the source added, stressing the visit was postponed by the mutual consent of the Russian and Palestinian authorities.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on all Palestinian political forces to stop the bloodshed and work on fulfilling the existing agreements.

''We call on all Palestinian political forces to return to the fulfillment of agreements reached at the Mecca meeting,'' Mr Lavrov said here today after a meeting of the council of regional heads at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He said international mediation efforts ''should be aimed at returning to the agreements,'' and urged all parties concerned to avoid steps, ''which would drive a wedge between Palestinians.'' Mr Lavrov noted that the situation in the Palestinian territories was very complicated.

''It is important to assist Palestinians to return to joint work,'' he said.

UNI