Heavy shelling as Abbas seeks Israel accord

Heavy cross-border rocket and artillery exchanges erupted along the Lebanese-Israeli frontier yesterday, and Israeli warplanes struck deep inside Lebanon, blasting Palestinian guerrilla bases near Beirut and Syria’s border.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian faction leaders agreed yesterday to launch an intensive 10-day schedule of talks aimed at bridging the gaps between the sides and stave off his plan to impose a national referendum on recognising Israel’s right to exist.