Blair backs Abbas' call for new poll

Ramallah: British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with moderate President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, continuing his efforts to revive the stalled Middle East peace process.

Blair has backed Abbas' call for new elections after rival parties Fatah and Hamas faced political deadlock.

Speaking at a news conference in Ramallah, Abbas said, “We are going to hold early elections, parliamentary and presidential. There is nothing we can see that can stop us.''

In his meeting with Abbas, Blair vowed to deliver support to the President and the Palestinians. “I will not rest for a single moment,'' he said, adding, “Your people are suffering. We don't want anything to stand in the way of helping the Palestinian people.''

The British Prime Minister urged the international community to support Abbas and his call for the new poll and to readdress the critical internal situation caused by Western sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led government.

Abbas said he was willing to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in order to seek a permanent solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. “We have to meet. We need each other, and we have to deal with our problems,'' he said.

Later today, Blair will meet with Olmert and Israeli officials as part of his bid to revive peace negotiations.