Europe, US heading for showdown over Mideast

EUROPE and Washington are moving towards a showdown on the Middle East when they meet at the end of the month with Russia and the UN to discuss the Road Map for peace.

EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Tullamore yesterday warned the US and Israel they will not recognise any deals they reached if they are not agreed by the Palestinians also.

A date for the meeting of the quartet EU, US, UN and Russia that guarantees the Road Map has not been finalised, but is expected to be on April 28 or 29, and possibly in Berlin, following a flurry of meetings between the four yesterday.