Palestinian PM takes case to US

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has held talks with senior members of the United States Congress, at the start of his first visit to Washington since he came to office.

On Friday he is due to meet US President George W Bush.

Mr Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - told reporters that the US administration should urge the Israelis to release all Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and the Palestinian Authority have both agreed to the US-backed peace plan for the Middle East - but the number of detainees to be released is one of the major sticking points.

On Thursday Mr Abbas held talks with congressional leaders behind closed doors.

He appealed for help in persuading Israel to free more prisoners and stopping settlement activities, a Palestinian official told Reuters news agency.

Joseph Biden, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters afterward that he was impressed with the prime minister's "determination and optimism".

Truce

Mr Abbas took office in June - after Washington refused to deal with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Q&A: What the roadmap means

The prime minister has enjoyed strong backing from the Bush administration.

On Thursday he also spoke to US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice about the peace plan, known as the roadmap.

Its aim is to lead to the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

During Mr Abbas's visit, the United States administration is expected to press him to take stronger action against militants.

The main Palestinian organisations - including the radical groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad - have announced a temporary halt to suicide attacks.

Also on Thursday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the US would keep pressing both sides in the coming days on prisoners, Jewish settlements and on the Palestinian militants.