RAMALLAH, West Bank, Jan 26 (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Wednesday that the killing of a militant in the West Bank had undermined his efforts to persuade the armed factions to agree to call a ceasefire.
"The Israelis are continuing their operations against our people at a time when our side is making a truce in the whole of Palestine," Abbas told reporters in Ramallah.
"The Israeli side must fulfill their responsibilities and to stop all their operations as it will endanger our efforts if they continue their operations against our land and our people," he added.
Abbas was speaking after at least one Palestinian militant was shot dead by undercover Israeli troops in the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya.
The newly elected Palestinian leader has secured an unofficial agreement from armed factions such as Hamas for a "cooling down" period.
The militants have said they will declare a formal ceasefire if Israel stops its military activities in the occupied territories and agrees to release some of the 8,000 Palestinians currently in Israeli prisons.
01/26/2005 16:43 GMT - AFP