Palestinian President Abbas heads to Jordan

Occupied Jerusalem: Moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas heads to Jordan on Monday on the first leg of his trip to the United Sates.

Abbas has talks scheduled for April 23 with US President George W. Bush, following the US-hosted Middle East peace conference in Maryland in November.

On Sunday, Abbas had a secret meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over an Egyptian initiative to arrange an unofficial ceasefire in Gaza.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Olmert gave no commitment. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas.