US Mideast envoy meets with leaders

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Washington's special Mideast envoy George Mitchell has met with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, to press Israel to curtail West Bank settlement construction. Mitchell announced no breakthroughs from the talks.

When meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mitchell said the US is committed to resuming peace talks and hopes "to bring this phase of the effort to a positive conclusion in the coming weeks."

The Palestinian side blame Israel for stalling peace talks and insist all settlement building must stop.

Earlier, Mitchell spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but failed to win a pledge for a halt to settlement construction. Netanyahu's office said he would hold a second meeting with Mitchell on Wednesday.