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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Cease-Fire Efforts in Middle East

Aired June 17, 2003 - 06:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A few steps forward, then a big step back. The fight for that American-backed road map goes on. The latest this morning: the new U.S. peace envoy meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
Live to Jerusalem now and our bureau chief there, Mike Hanna.

Good morning -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Hello there, Carol.

Well, Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf is in the region holding talks with Israelis and Palestinians. His task is to observe and monitor the implementation of the U.S.-backed road map, but no sign that that is going to be implemented in the near future.

John Wolf has met Israelis, and in the course of today he met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. It's very much an observation mission at this stage for John Wolf, meeting all parties, finding out their views on matters. But at the same time, until some form of calm is created in the region, we're not going to see that road map implemented very soon.

Mahmoud Abbas himself is attempting to hold talks with militant groups. First, he says, he wants to hold talks with militants within his own Fatah organization. Then he will be speaking to militants from Islamic Jihad and Hamas and other radical organizations.

A group of Egyptians were in the region in Gaza, holding talks with those radical groups -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad. However, they departed the region without any formal cease-fire or cessation of hostilities agreed to, but we understand these Egyptian observers are now holding talks with Hamas leaders in other areas in a bid to get the cease-fire in place. Talks have not yet failed to that end; however, still waiting to see whether there are any developments in the next few days.

So, the situation remains tense, the diplomacy remains intense, and the whole intention is to create that period of calm in which the implementation of that U.S.-backed road map can begin -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Mike Hanna live from Jerusalem this morning.

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