Israel under renewed pressure to withdraw from West Bank

The United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia have called, with one voice, for Israel to withdraw immediately from the Palestinian territories and for both sides in the Middle East conflict to declare an immediate ceasefire.

Speaking in Madrid, UN secretary general Kofi Annan said: "We call for an immediate, meaningful ceasefire and an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, specifically including Chairman [Yasser] Arafat’s headquarters.

"We call on Israel to fully comply with international humanitarian principles and to allow full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations and services."

Mr Annan was speaking after a four-way meeting between US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, EU foreign policy envoy Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country currently holds the presidency of the EU.