Egyptian Minister to visit Washington over peace talks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Thursday he will visit Washington next week in an effort restore direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

"Negotiations are at a halt. There is indeed a problem," Aboul Gheit told a news conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "I will be visiting Washington this coming Tuesday. I will meet the American foreign minister and senior officials on Wednesday to see what the US can do to resume negotiations between the two sides," he said. (Reuters)