Jordan's king urges UN Mideast envoy to intensify efforts for peace

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged US Middle East envoy George Mitchell to intensify efforts to achieve the "needed progress" in relaunching meaningful peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, dpa reported.

Mitchell briefed the Jordanian head of state on the outcome of his talks over the past two days with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas.

"The monarch stressed the need for continuing US efforts to ensure a resumption of effective negotiations with a view to accomplishing the two-state solution and ensuring that the needed progress is made in the peace process," according to a royal court statement said.

Mitchell and Abdullah discussed "how to surmount the obstacles facing ongoing efforts to ensure the resumption of the Palestinian- Israeli negotiations in accordance with clear criteria and references and within a definite timetable", the statement added.

Abdullah also urged the US to continue its support for the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.