De Rossa optimistic about prospects for Mid East peace

Irish MEP Pronsias de Rossa has expressed optimisism about the prospects for peace in the Middle East following the election of Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian Authority president.

Mr de Rossa was part of a 30-strong European Parliament delegation that monitored the election over the weekend.

Speaking in Strasbourg today, he said the fact that Mr Abbas and pro-democracy campaigner Mustafa Barghouti secured a huge majority of votes was a positive sign.

"The combination of Mustafa Barghouti's vote and Abbas' vote indicates that the vast majority of the Palestinian people want peace, they want an end to the violence and they want negotiations," the Labour Party MEP said.