Annan is pleased with Israeli, Palestinian decision to ceasing fire

The Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan on Tuesday evening expressed his hope that steps taken by the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government to halt the confrontation in the Palestinian territories will pave the way to resuming security co-operation between the two sides.

News reports quoted the spokesman for the UN as saying that Annan also hopes that these steps will contribute to convening a nearby meeting between the Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres and the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat.