Damascus - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday met leaders of Palestinian factions based in Syria as part of a drive to end inter-factional divisions but snubbed leaders from the rival Pa

Damascus  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was expected to arrive in Syria Sunday for talks on the prospects of reconciliation talks with the Hamas militant movement but he had no plans to mee

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cast doubts Monday on recent comments by Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert that progress has been made in the Middle East peace process.

Olmert told US President George W Bush in Jerusalem last week that peace negotiations with Abbas were making "serious progress" and negotiations "hopefully will come to fruition within this year, 2008."

However, Abbas said in an interview published Monday in the Saudi Al-Watan newspaper that "there is no agreement, rather what has taken place is only an exchange of views."

Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Friday urged about 400,000 Palestini