Sheikh, Egypt, Nov 22, SPA -- Key world leaders will take time out of a meeting on Iraq to discuss the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, host Egypt said Monday. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell would meet Tuesday morning in Sharm el-Sheikh. The four, who make up the "Quartet" of sponsors of a Mideast peace plan known as the road map, were in this Red Sea resort with officials from around the region and the world for talks on restoring stability in Iraq. The Nov. 11 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip next year have lent new urgency to efforts to revive the road map. Powell preceded his arrival in Egypt, scheduled for later Monday, with visits to Israel and the West Bank. Israeli officials told Powell they were willing to renew talks with the Palestinians on some issues, including security, and to coordinate the aftermath of Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in 2005. While Arafat was alive, Israel refused to negotiate with the Palestinians.
