Rice suggests there is 'opportunity' for progress on Mideast peace

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday she saw hopeful signs that progress was possible in forging peace in the Middle East. President George W. Bush remains committed to a two-state solution, Rice told reporters in Vienna, calling it ''one of the centerpieces of our policy.''

She said Washington continued to work toward ''the establishment of the Palestinian state to live side by side with Israel in peace and security." Rice acknowledged the difficulties, but said trends in the region pointed to a time of opportunity. "I think it has been long enough since Palestinians have wanted and needed their state, and long enough that Israelis have wanted and needed a neighbor that could be a source of security and not a source of threat for them,'' she said.