The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, has refused to allow a meeting to go ahead later today between his Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, and the Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat. Reports say Mr Sharon blocked the talks because of a mortar bomb attack by Palestinians on a Jewish settlement in Gaza yesterday.
The Prime Minister has demanded a 48-hour period of quiet as a condition for the talks, which would be aimed at consolidating a ceasefire announced last week. The United States has been pressing for an agreement between the two sides that could help draw Muslim countries into a coalition against worldwide terrorism.
