Palestinians meet new US administration

The new American government has held its first direct talks with a high-level Palestinian delegation.

The secretary of state, Colin Powell, met the Palestinian minister and senior negotiator, Nabil Shaath, in Washington.

Mr Powell's officials said they had discussed the steps Israel and the Palestinians needed to take to return to peace negotiations.

Mr Powell is due to leave for a tour of the Middle East on Friday and is expected to meet the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and the Israeli prime minister-elect, Ariel Sharon.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service