NEW YORK, February 9, 2007 (WAFA) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday conferred by telephone with his three international partners in the Middle East peace process on latest moves following Palestinian agreement on a national unity government.

Mr. Ban held preliminary consultations with the others members of the diplomatic Quartet - UN, Russia, European Union and United States - which has been promoting the Road Map plan for a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace, originally slated for completion by the end of 2005.

"They all agreed that the initiative by King Abdullah was commendable and welcome," Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas said, referring to the Saudi Arabian monarch who brought Palestinian Fatah and Hamas representatives together for unity talks in Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

Last night Mr. Ban called the agreement on a national unity government a "very important step forward," voicing the hope that it "will curb the violence, creating a better future for the Palestinian people." He praised King Abdullah for his role in helping to bring it about.

A.D (22:40P) (20:40GMT)