International community should intervene to halt Israel aggression on Palestinians

President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat yesterday held an expanded session of talks; they probed the outcome of international contacts designed to enforce Mitchell Commission's report and the Egyptian-Jordanian initiative.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher Thursday said that Arafat had briefed President Hosni Mubarak on his talks with French President Jacques Chirac and his contacts with US President George W. Bush.

"There is a general feeling that the new US envoy Richard Burns will work to push things forward," Maher added.

Maher ruled out a visit by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to Egypt during his current African tour. "Egypt welcome a visit by the US Secretary of State at any time, he said, adding that contacts between Egypt and the US were going ahead."

"Israel's settlements policy marks the apogee of tension, violence and aggression on the Palestinian people's rights," he added.

He asked Israel to freeze settlements activities. "All acts made by Sharon's government since it came to power have shown intentions unrelated to peace. They are aggressive acts that should stop.