Mubarak calls on Palestinians to make headway in Sharon's era as he is capable of reaching a solution

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak called on Palestinians to unify their stands, and to renounce differences to maintain the unity of the Palestinian ranks as an initial step to keeping the interests of the Palestinian people.

Speaking to reporters following the inauguration of East Port Said harbor, the president pointed out that the recent visit to Israel by Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and Minister Omar Suleiman was aimed at discussing bilateral relations and the issue of the Egyptian students, arrested in Israel whom the president promised will be released shortly.

The visit also aimed at probing the Palestinian cause and the border question especially matters connected with the Philadelphia road. The duties of each side were also discussed, the president added.

Mubarak predicted that Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who is the Head of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee and Fatah's candidate for Palestinian presidency, will win the new Palestinian elections, slated for January 9.

He told reporters that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has already shown willingness to assist in facilitating the upcoming elections.

Mubarak said he expects a direct meeting to be held between Sharon and Abbas once the latter wins the elections.

"Abu Mazen's victory in the elections would mean a push forward to the peace march," President Mubarak said noting that Egypt welcomes and supports any new step towards peace.

The president said Marwan al-Barghouthi had announced that he would not run for the Palestinian presidential elections and then nominated himself adding this move would break the unity of the Palestinian ranks.

The president expressed the belief that if the Palestinians did not manage to make a headway in Sharon's era, it would be difficult for them to make any other headway as Sharon is the capable one of reaching a solution if he wished.

The president said when he met the Palestinian delegation, he advised them to bury their differences and to be unified in front of the public opinion so that a solution may be reached.

On the Syrian track, the President said his recent talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad did not touch on this issue.

He said there were contacts between Syria and Israel through United Nations envoy Terje Larsen adding "We did not touch on the details of these contacts."

"I discussed with President Assad the Syrian relations with Lebanon, how to break the current deadlock and the Palestinian cause," the President said.

On the US and European stance towards the Mideast peace process, the president said the US President still insists on the establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel and he means what he says.