Abbas meets Livni, promises help on Israeli soldier's release

United Nations: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas committed during a meeting on Monday with Israel's foreign minister to make "maximum efforts" to help free an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants, a top official said.

The meeting at the UN headquarters between Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was the first between them for five months.

Earlier, Abbas earlier held talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

President George W. Bush is to see the Palestinian leader on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations opening session.

Abbas was also warned by Livni that if he joins the national unity government with the Hamas group, it must recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and acknowledge past agreements.

Egypt has been trying to broker a deal for the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also has pushed for the release of Shalit and two other Israeli soldiers.

Following Shalit's seizure, Israel's contacts with the Palestinian leadership have been virtually frozen. And talk of Abbas' Fatah faction joining a new government with Hamas has raised new western fears over the Middle East peace process.