U.S. to deepen mideast peace role

January 14, 2007

Condoleezza Rice has pledged the U.S. will expand its role in the Middle East peace process - as Hamas rejects the idea. The U.S. Secretary of State on a visit to the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the United States was "deeply committed" to accelerate the peace plan and move towards the goal of a Palestinian state. The US wants to boost the moderate leader who is embroiled in an internal political struggle with the ruling Hamas Islamists. Washington plans to pour 86 million US dollars into helping train and equip Abbas's presidential guard.