Abbas insists on settlement freeze before talks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insisted on Sunday that Israel should freeze settlement building before he returns to peace talks, a statement in Jordan said. "Of course we will not stop contacts with the Americans," the palace statement quoted him as saying following talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

The King met separately with US envoy George Mitchell, who has been touring the region since Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to salvage the fledgling direct negotiations. (AFP)