No peace progress without active US role, Mubarak, Weizman.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday said that without an active U.S role, it would be very difficult to make progress in the Middle East peace process. Addressing a joint press conference with Israeli president Ezer Weizman following their talks in Alexandria, Mr. Mubarak said: "I can't say I'm optimistic or pessimistic, but I hope with all my heart this meeting will bring about a breakthrough which will advance the peace process."

Mubarak was referring to a meeting to be hosted today by US Secretary of State Madeline Albright in New York city between Israeli and Palestinian officials to try resume their peace talks.

"Without an active U.S role there will be no progress. It is like when the Egyptians and Israelis went to Camp David with the American president," Weizman said after his talks with president Mubarak on the current stall in peace talks, Al Ahram daily said today.