Another US bid to revive stalled Middle East peace talks

The United States Middle-East envoy, Dennis Ross, will return to the region next month in another attempt to revive the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

A State Department spokesman said the talks would focus on issues oustanding from earlier agreements, including the provision of a Palestinian airport and seaport, an industrial zone in Gaza, and a corridor linking the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

US officials hope the resolution of these issues will make possible progress on more fundamental questions such as troop withdrawal from the West Bank, Jewish settlements and security cooperation.

Mr Ross's mission will prepare for talks in Washington, where President Clinton will hold separate meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service