Barak speaks on the telephone with Clinton

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday made a telephone call with the US President to brief them with Middle East peace developments and to explain to the US president his ideas pertaining to his request to delay the visit of the US Foreign secretary Madeleine Albright to the region.

The spokesman for the US national security council Mike Hammer told the London-based al-Hayat daily that Barak and Clinton " talked on the telephone for 20 minutes and that the Israeli Premier wanted, basically to acquaint President Clinton on developments concerning his discussions with leaders of the region and his attempt to make a move on all tracks.

Barak asserted to Clinton that he wants the visit of Madeleine Albright to the region to be fruitful, Hammer added that the US President is still committed to help sides concerned to achieve peace