Powell discusses Mideast peace with Abbas and Israeli officials

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell Tuesday spoke with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and was later to speak with newly elected Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to encourage progress toward peace, the State Department said.
"We will continue, ourselves, to encourage progress between the two parties," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"We will continue to encourage progress by the Palestinians in controlling the security situation in the territories, and we'll continue to look for every opportunity to work with the parties to move forward."
Earlier, the Palestinian Authority unveiled long-awaited plans to reform the sprawling security apparatus, cutting the number of services from 11 to three.

01/11/2005 20:52 GMT - AFP