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Palestinians: Road map to peace postponed

Sharon meets with Palestinian legislator

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Saeb Erakat: 'The international community should have focused on reviving the peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and not on war against Iraq.'

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JERICHO, West Bank (CNN) -- The Palestinian Authority has been informed that the Middle East Quartet has decided to postpone the introduction of its road map to peace until a new Israeli government is formed and the situation in Iraq is resolved, the Palestinians' chief negotiator said Saturday.

The diplomatic group known as the Quartet comprises the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations.

No Israeli comment was available Saturday.

"We regret this decision, which will mean a political vacuum and further escalation on the ground, and we do believe that, for the sake of the Middle East people, the international community should have focused on reviving the peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and not on war against Iraq," Saeb Erakat said.

Erakat also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met Wednesday with Ahmad Qorei, also known as Abu Ala'a, chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Israeli diplomatic sources said the two discussed the possibility of resuming a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians.

In an interview with Israeli radio, Sharon's senior aide Dov Weisglass said the direct talks with the Palestinians started long before the recent elections in Israel and that they will continue next week.

The purpose of the talks, Weisglass said, is to make the Palestinian Authority fight determinedly to stop terrorist attacks elsewhere, as it has been doing in Gaza.

Weisglass said Israel, in return, would change its military deployment and improve the Palestinians' economic and humanitarian conditions.

Arafat told reporters Saturday that the Palestinian Authority "will keep on with the negotiations."


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