Palestinians say Middle East on the brink of explosion

Palestinian leaders have again warned that the Middle East peace process is facing a dangerous stalemate.

They accuse the Israeli government of pushing an already volatile situation to the brink of explosion.

In a statement on the outcome of talks with the American envoy Dennis Ross, the Palestinian Authority blames what it calls Israeli intransigence for the lack of progress in his talks with Israeli leaders.

In his own assessment of his mission, Mr Ross had earlier said that little, if anything, had been achieved.

Before leaving the Middle East, Mr Ross again criticised the Israeli government's plans to press ahead with the construction of new Jewish settlements on the West Bank, which, he said, were not helpful.

The American president, Bill Clinton, is due to have separate talks in Washington later this month with the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service