Gingrich meets Arafat

The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, has had talks with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Mr Gingrich said the discussions had been honest and very positive and he reiterated the United States' commitment to the peace process.

The BBC Jerusalem correspondent says Mr Gingrich's remarks contrasted with his earlier pro-Israeli comments and his criticism of American efforts to persuade Israel to hand over more land to the Palestinians.

Mr Gingrich has now gone on to Jordan where he is to meet King Hussein.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service