Diplomatic push for ME peace

Omar Suleiman, a key figure behind a ceasefire agreement between Palestinian factions, was due to meet Israeli officials on Wednesday ahead of a visit by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, next Sunday.

Two senior US envoys, Elliot Abrams and David Welch, are also due to arrive in the region to prepare the groundwork for a weekend visit by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the West Bank town of Ramallah.

China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is similarly expected in the West Bank on June 20, a day before the summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palesti-nian leader Mahmud Abbas.

The optimism engendered by a February summit between Sharon and Abbas -- the first meeting between the leaders of both sides in more than five years -- has been marred by continuing violence, albeit on a lower level than at any stage since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.

The February talks, which were hosted by Egypt, saw both leaders announce an end to hostilities. Abbas later secured a formal agreement from Palestinian factions, such as Hamas, for a de facto ceasefire in a meeting hosted by Cairo.

But a recent burst of tit-for-tat violence has put the truce under unprecedented strain, forcing Abbas to hold talks with militant factions in Gaza on a mission that proved less than successful.