Mideast talks will continue’

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Washington: President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the Middle East peace process which has so far failed to yield results will continue after the two lame-duck leaders leave office.

The close allies spoke at the start of a farewell meeting before Bush leaves the White House on January 20 and as Olmert prepares to step down amid a corruption scandal after February 10 elections.

Although president-elect Barack Obama has vowed to continue to support the talks to end the 60-year conflict, the prospects of the process launched almost exactly a year ago at an international conference in Annapolis, Maryland remain shrouded in uncertainty.

"I believe that vision is alive and needs to be worked on," Bush said.

"We strongly believe that Israel will benefit by having a Palestinian state, a democracy on her border that works for peace."

Olmert, on his part, said that the Annapolis process will continue because "a two-state solution is the only possible way to resolve the conflict in the Middle East."

Bush and Olmert, who wish to end their time in office with proof of some success, will use the talks to take stock of their work over the past three years, officials said.

But it remained unclear if they were to seek to draw up a document summarising the latest round of talks.

The peace talks have made little apparent progress despite intensive meetings between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and strong US backing, as all sides have acknowledged they would not meet their declared goal of inking a peace treaty before Bush leaves office.

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