Kouchner: Indirect talks must commence immediately

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Saturday at the end of a meeting with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell that France "stands by the United States to stress the need for an immediate start" to the indirect talks.

Mitchell declined to give specifics on what he would ask of Israel in order to spark the talks, saying, "We have suggested a range of actions that can be taken on all sides." (AP)