Peres and Abbas in secret talks

ISRAEL’S Shimon Peres has met secretly with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan.

Mr Peres is a senior member of the centrist Kadima Party of acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the front-runner in March 28 elections.

The Peres-Abbas meeting took place yesterday with Mr Olmert’s permission, government officials said.

Mr Olmert has said he had no intention of meeting with Mr Abbas, who last month asked the Islamic militant group Hamas to form the next Palestinian government in the wake of Hamas’s election victory.

However, Mr Olmert has also distanced himself from statements by his foreign minister that Mr Abbas has become irrelevant.

The Peres-Abbas meeting was meant to attract the support of moderate voters.

Mr Peres is a former leader of the centre-left Labour Party.