Barak withdraws from Mideast peace talks

Efforts to end the current violence in the Middle East have faltered with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, refusing to attend talks in Egypt later today.

An Israeli official said Mr Barak was returning to Israel because the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat had refused to sign an agreement to end the continuing violence.

The official said the document was drafted during Wednesday's three-way meeting in Paris between Mr Barak, Mr Arafat and the American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright. Israeli officials said both sides had agreed to withdraw their forces from the worst flashpoints in the Palestinian territories and Israel. But a senior Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo denied that any agreement was reached, saying that the key Palestinian demand -- for an international inquiry into the unrest -- had not been satisfied. The meeting was tense, with Mr Arafat storming out at one point, only to be persuaded back by Mrs Albright. Mr Arafat and Mrs Albright are still heading towards Egypt to continue the talks, despite Mr Barak's absence.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service