Abbas ready for talks with Israel

Speaking in the Norwegian capital, Abbas said he was willing to negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians and that an international group should serve as a broker, possibly the so-called "Quartet" of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

"I am ready to immediately resume negotiations with the Israeli government," Abbas said. "It is important for me to clarify that the Palestinian legislative elections, which brought Hamas to power, (are) not an obstacle in front of negotiations."

Abbas said his Palestine Liberation Organisation still has the mandate to negotiate in the Middle East conflict because it signed all previous agreements with Israel.

Hamas, which ousted Abbas' Fatah Party from power in January parliamentary elections, has refused to renounce violence, recognisethe Jewish state or accept past peace agreements.

In response to Abbas' comments, Israel said a formula already exists for resuming peace talks the long-stalled, internationally backed "road map" peace plan, which envisions the ultimate establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"Israel believes that the best way to move forward is according to the road map, which is the international community's accepted plan for the Middle East peace process," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.

"The road map has been endorsed by Europe, America, Russia and the UN, and is the way forward. Unfortunately, the new Palestinian leadership under Hamas refuses to accept the road map or even Israel's right to exist," he added.