 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hits out at US-backed Middle East peace talks in a speech at the Palestinian central council in Ramallah on the eve of a White House meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George W Bush, pledging to call snap presidential and parliamentary elections in the New Year if there is no agreement with Hamas to end the rift in Palestinian ranks (photo: AFP) parent page (27 November - 3 December 2008, issue #924) |