Palestinians clash with Israeli troops

The UK is to host a key Middle East conference aimed at kick-starting the Israel Palestine peace process.

Tony Blair told MPs that the summit would take place this January in Britain.

Senior Palestinian figures will discuss reform in a bid to restart peace talks after Israel's general election in the New Year.

Yasser Arafat's leadership of the Palestinian Authority has been a constant source of tension between the two sides during the conflict.

The British prime minister will be hoping that the conference under the auspices of the EU - but also involving the US, Russia, Europe and the United Nations - can overcome Israel's current hostility to Palestinian self-rule.

And the development raises further questions over the PLO leader's future as head of a Palestinian state.

Emerging from this weekend's Copenhagen European Council, the EU initiative follows hopes that a new Israeli government - following the country's January 28 2003 general election - can be brought back to the negotiating table.

During the intense shuttle diplomacy ahead of the UN's resolution on Iraq, Blair pledged to redouble efforts to secure a solution to the Middle East crisis.

"[It] means continuing to do what we can to seek an end to violence and to reverse the deteriorating humanitarian situation," he told the Commons.

"It also means that ensuring Palestinian reform is effective, to this end I can announce today that I am inviting leading Palestinians to come to Britain in January for a conference, along with members for the troika, and other countries form the region closely involved in supporting reform efforts."

The aim of the conference will be to start in train talks that can lead to a two state solution to the Middle East conflict.

"[The conference] will discuss progress on reform and look at how the international community can help.

"It is in the interests of both Palestinians and Israelis that these reform efforts succeed so that we can make a reality of president Bush's vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."