RAMALLAH (AFP)--Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Ramallah on Monday before going to the United Nations to plead for a truce in Gaza, officials said.
"President Mahmud Abbas will meet with President Sarkozy and the EU troika delegation on Monday in Ramallah," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP.
"He will then immediately go to New York, where he will make a speech before the UN Security Council to ask for a halt to the Israeli attack against Gaza," he said. It was not immediately known when Abbas would address the council.
A massive offensive by Israel against Hamas targets, now beginning its second week, has killed at least 436 Palestinians, including 75 children. In the same period, Gaza militants' rockets have killed four Israelis and wounded dozens of others.
An EU delegation headed by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is also due to begin a visit to the Middle East on Sunday to discuss efforts towards a ceasefire.
The other members are Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner.
The Czech Republic on Thursday took over the presidency of the European Union from France.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will accompany the three foreign ministers.
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Publié le 03 janvier 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones