Sharon, Abbas declare an end to violence

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas declared yesterday that their people would stop all violent attacks against each other, pledging to break a four-year cycle of bloodshed and get peace talks back on track.

But, ominously, the two militant groups responsible for most of the terror attacks on Israel refused to be bound by the agreement.

In one sign the talks went well, Egypt and Jordan announced immediately afterward that they would return their ambassadors to Israel after a four-year absence possibly within days.