Bush seeks peace talks

US PRESIDENT George W Bush yesterday announced an international conference this autumn to include Israel, the Palestinian authority and some of their Arab neighbours to help restart Middle East peace talks.

He said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would preside over the session. Mr Bush said the conference would include representatives from Israel, the Palestinians “and their neighbours in the region” and said participants would include just those governments that support the creation of a Palestinian state.

Mr Bush also pledged increased US aid to the Palestinian government of President Mahmoud Abbas and called for the convening of a meeting of “donor” nations to consider more international aid, including the Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.