Palestine Prez to visit India from Oct 6-9

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Palestine National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive here on October 6 on a four-day State visit to India during which he will hold discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders on various bilateral and international issues including situation in West Asia and lay the foundation stone of the Palestinian Embassy here.

Mr Abbas, who will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr Riyad Al-Maliki and other senior officials, will also meet President Pratibha Devisingh Patil who will host a State banquet in his honour.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition L K Advani and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will call on President Abbas.

''During his visit, President Mahmoud Abbas will lay the foundation stone of the Chancery-cum-Residence complex of the Embassy of Palestine, being built as a gift of the Government and the people of India,'' the External Affairs Ministry announced here today.

Mr Abbas earlier visited India in May 2005.

''India has always supported the Palestinian cause and the need for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region,'' a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said here.

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