Abbas: Middle East peace talks to be held in Moscow in June

Moscow: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that a Middle East peace conference will be held in Moscow in June.

In a lecture at a Moscow university Abbas expressed “great hopes'' for the conference and said it will lay the groundwork for an overall peace process in the region.

Abbas is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of his three-day visit on Friday.

Israel has not welcomed the idea of a Moscow conference, proposed by Russia immediately after the Annapolis talks in November.

Hamas is unlikely to be invited to the conference, despite being recognised by Russia.

Abbas also said a release of all Palestinian prisoners must be part of any peace deal with Israel.

Abbas delivered the televised address on Thursday to mark Palestinian Prisoners' Day. About 8,500 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails and detention centres.

Rallies and marches are planned throughout the West Bank on Thursday to mark Prisoners' Day.