The foreign secretary has led the latest stage of Britain's bid to get progress in the Middle East peace process.

Jack Straw and foreign minister Mike O'Brien held talks on Thursday with Israeli deputy prime minister Ehud Olmert.

The men urged Olmert, who met the prime minister yesterday, to renew talks with the Palestinians.

"The British government is strongly committed to a two state solution in which Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peace and security, and we are very strongly committed to the road map which sets out the path to peace," said Straw.

Downing Street said on Wednesday that Britain was making efforts to "reinvigorate the peace process."

Olmert is the latest politician from the Middle East to hold talks with the government.

Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Israel's foreign secretary Silvan Shalom and King Abdullah II have all been to Downing Street.

Talks have been dominated by Israel's security wall and its plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Downing Street played down the significance of the meetings, saying Britain was simply using its influence to lobby for progress.

"Everyone was doing what they could to try to move the process forward," said the official spokesman.