Peres heads for US as violence threatens truce prospects

Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres was today leaving for the US to discuss peace efforts after talks in Egypt and Jordan about a ceasefire plan - but renewed violence between Israel and the Palestinians cast doubt on peace prospects.

Peres travelled to Cairo and the Jordanian resort of Aqaba yesterday to discuss an Egyptian-Jordanian initiative for ending seven months of Palestinian-Israeli clashes and reviving negotiations.