British Prime Minister Tony Blair has offered to host an international conference to help rehabilitate the battered Palestinian Authority, encourage reform and serve as a bridge to renewed Middle East peace talks.

Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Blair confirmed that Britain will be hosting talks on the future of the region early next year.

In announcing the one-day conference, Blair said it would have narrow goals focusing on strengthening and reforming the Palestinian administration and its security forces.

"That is the purpose of the meeting in London. So, in other words, we set an overall vision, we have the election of the Palestinian president, we have a plan, a proper plan, a viable plan for the Palestinian side in terms of politics, the economy, security and then what we can do is have the disengagement."

Blair said the talks along with Israel's planned pullout from the Gaza Strip are only part of a longer process to re-establish the peace process.

Sharon welcomed Blair's initiative and said the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gave both sides a window of opportunity to push for peace.

Later Blair travelled to Ramallah for talks with the Palestinian leadership.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said the London conference would consolidate the peace process.

Abbas, who is tipped to win next month's presidential elections, reiterated that Palestinians wanted to follow an internationally backed "road map" for a Palestinian state.

Source: CRI News