Arabs walk out of Euromed talks

Arab states have walked out of talks between the European Union and Mediterranean countries in protest against Israeli military action in the Palestinian territories.

The walkout came as the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Michael Melchior, began addressing the conference in Valencia, in Spain.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, has arrived at the conference, where officials said the EU would impress on him the need for a ceasefire and an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian areas.

Representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and several Arab countries are attending the meeting, although Syria and Lebanon are boycotting the talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service