Russia, USA agree to work on ending violence, resume negotiations

The United States and Russia agreed on working together on convincing the Palestinians and Israelis to curb violence and set the stage for resumption of peace negotiations.

A statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said that US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stressed during their telephone conversation their support for the Mitchell peace plan.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Israel to refrain from opening fire at Palestinian territories, withdraw its troops from all of Palestinian self-rule areas and stop its policy of liquidating Palestinian readerships.

US President George W. Bush reiterated his calls on Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat Thursday to do his best to stop suicidal operations and urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to exercise self-restraint.

Bush expressed confidence that the Palestinians and Israelis realize that they can avert war and work together on peace.

White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush made a phone call later with Sharon, during which they agreed to avert further escalations in the occupied territories.

On his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said Israel does not intend to re-occupy Palestinian self-rule areas, alleging that Israel is practicing self-restraint in its reaction to suicide operations.

Tel Aviv will launch raids on terrorist enclaves to put an end to their acts, said Peres in an interview with US Hardball TV program.