Israel and Morocco have held their first substantive talks since Morocco's new King Mohammed was enthroned last year.

Speaking after a two hour meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister, David Levy, praised the King as a man of peace and said he was ready to continue his father's work in the Middle-East peace process.

Israeli officials said Mr Levy's four day visit aimed to build confidence between the two countries and pave the way for a visit by the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak.

Mr Levy, who was born in Morocco, is also expected to visit his boyhood home in the capital, Rabat. It's estimated that fewer than eight-thousand Jews remain in Morocco.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service