Palestinian demand hits peace process

Middle East peace plans stalled again today after the chief Palestinian negotiator insisted there would be no talks with Israel until a deadline was set for establishing an independent state.

Palestinians have repeatedly said they want a detailed schedule for talks that are expected to begin after a US-sponsored Middle East conference in November or December. But although Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has consistently resisted the notion of a deadline, they had never before made the matter a condition for talks.