Abbas says he will meet Olmert next week

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will start their twice-monthly meetings next week, mostly likely Sunday, a Palestinian official said.

The two leaders had promised US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month they would hold talks every two weeks. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the first of these meetings would most likely take place Sunday. Abbas leaves for a 10-day trip to Europe on Monday.