RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas is to begin a visit to Egypt and Jordan this weekend, a statement by his office said on Thursday.
Abbas was due to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday morning before travelling to Amman for talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Mubarak has been playing an increasingly prominent role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, hosting a summit between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in February as well as bringing pressure to bear on militant groups to end their campaigns of violence.
04/14/2005 15:57 GMT