Powell to hold last-ditch talks with Sharon and Arafat

Still pressing for a ceasefire, US Secretary of State Colin Powell is to hold at least one more round of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Powell may be nearing the end of his peace mission and would like to return to Washington with at least one solid gain. But, Sharon has vowed to keep Israeli troops in Ramallah indefinitely and Arafat is hedging on his commitment to curb violence until Israel pulls out.