Egyptian intelligence chief in Israel talks

Israel has been giving details of a meeting on Wednesday in Tel Aviv between the Israeli leadership and the head of Egyptian intelligence, Omar Suleiman.

The defence minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, told Israel radio that he and the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the foreign minster, Shimon Peres, met Mr Suleiman to discuss ways of ending the violence between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Mr Ben-Eliezer said they sat for a long time summarising what he called up-to-date conclusions.

Mr Peres said Mr Suleiman was worried about what would happen if the Israelis and Palestinians ignored peace proposals recommended by the former American senator, George Mitchell.

There has been no comment from Cairo on the meeting.

The talks took place ahead of a visit by Mr Peres to Egypt on Sunday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service