Sharon calls for immediate ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has called on the Palestinians to agree to an immediate ceasefire after eight months of fighting.

He told a televised news conference that a ceasefire could lead to implementing a US-backed plan for restarting peace talks. The proposals were published on Monday by an international commission led by former US Senator George Mitchell.

Sharon said a truce could be followed by the confidence-building measures recommended by the Mitchell Commission.

He was, however, evasive on a key recommendation of the panel, that Israel freeze all construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sharon said: "I call tonight for a total truce in the area, and I say again here that if the Palestinians accept this proposal to stop the fire, we will immediately stop the fire.

"I call on our neighbours to return to negotiations. Peace requires painful concessions by both sides (and) can be achieved only at the negotiating table."

Sharon said he believed a formula could be found that would satisfy the Palestinians but would also allow for the settlements to expand according to their current needs.

Sharon called a for a resumption of peace talks which were broken off in January, about a week before an election that swept him to power.