UN chief will urge Arabs to back Mideast talks
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he will urge Arab leaders this weekend to support indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israelis despite their anger over Israel's approval of new homes for Jews in predominantly Arab east Jerusalem.
He said it's crucial for Arab countries to help create "a favorable atmosphere" for the talks to succeed. Ban said Israel's announcement on March 9 that it intends to build 1,600 new homes and Wednesday's announcement that it will construct 20 new apartments for Jews in east Jerusalem have created "a crisis of confidence" as efforts continue to start the indirect talks. The secretary-general leaves Thursday for the Arab League summit in Sirte, Libya, on March 27-28. (AP)
