Mideast peace process ‘irreversible’: Bush

WASHINGTON: US President George W. Bush has said that the Middle East peace talks are a hard but "irreversible" process as he met Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas one month before he leaves the White House.

Speaking beside the US leader, Abbas said Palestinians are "practically committed" to negotiations launched by Bush a year ago and was confident incoming President Barack Obama would pick up where Bush leaves off.

Their comments came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned that renewed violence against Israel following the end of a six-month truce by Abbas's rival Hamas movement will only hurt the Palestinian goal of statehood.

Abbas paid tribute to the "foundation" of negotiations laid by Bush.

However Abbas, whose authority is limited to the occupied West Bank, found his calls were ignored by Hamas which ousted his forces and seized control of the coastal enclave of Gaza in June 2007.

With Hamas accusing Israel of failing to respect the truce's terms, fears arose of a new flare-up of violence.

Aides to Abbas, who hoped to discuss the situation in Gaza with Bush, want an end to the Israeli economic "blockade" and "its military escalation" in the territory.

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India's swine flu death rate is increasing

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Cyprus lace to be declared UNESCO cultural heritage

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