Erekat: No progress in negotiations

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that no progress has been achieved in the recent round of talks with Israel, aimed at getting out of the current impasse concerning the implementation of the Wye River accord.

Erekat added that the greatest efforts are currently being exerted between the negotiators to achieve progress, but it relies on a decision to be issued by both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

Israeli sources said the two sides are exposed to continued pressure to reach an agreement before the visit of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Thursday.