RAMALLAH, January 13, 2007 (WAFA) - President Mahmoud Abass arrived Saturday in Ramallah after he held Saturday talks with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman.

The short visit to Jordan aimed at setting coordination between the two leaders on the eve of the U.S Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice's tour the region.

The leaders also discussed Arab and international efforts aimed to overcome difficulties impeding the restart of the peace process to reach specific and tangible steps on the ground to establish an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian national soil.

In a statement to Jordan television after the meeting, President Abbas said his talks with King Abdullah centered on Rice's visit to the region and the need to coordinate Arab stand because it is important to talk to the U.S administration with one language and one content.

In reply to a question whether he would soon head for Damascus, President Abbas said so far no date has been set for such a visit, adding "We will wait for the next week to decide on this," he added.

On the Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue, President Abbas said it would start from Gaza through the follow-up committee. "I think it will start tomorrow and last for two weeks," he said.

For his part, King Abdullah II reiterated that efforts of all Palestinian parties should be geared at this stage to give top priority to the Palestinian people's interest above any other considerations.

This can be done through tightening the Palestinian internal front so that the Palestinian negotiators can go ahead in peace talks to regain the Palestinian legitimate rights based on international legitimacy and the two-state solution, King Abdullah added.

"The Arab peace initiative is a practical and reasonable frame to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the core of problems in the region, and if resolved can bring about a solution to end all aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict," the King said.

King Abdullah urged both the Palestinians and Israelis to take the lead and make use of the political momentum expected to surface with the regional tour of Rice in the coming few days to reach positive results that can fulfill aspirations of the peoples in region for a just and comprehensive peace, which guarantees security and stability for all.

A.D (21:46 P) (17:46 GMT)