US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived Friday in Jordan as part of a regional tour to shore up support for the fragile Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire, officials said.
Powell flew in from Tel Aviv a day after announcing a seven-day test period to end violence following intense and separate talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Powell went immediately into talks with King Abdullah II, traveling by motorcade from Marka airport to the king's private home of Beit al-Baraka for brief talks before leaving for France.
Officials said Powell will seek Jordan's support for the US efforts to consolidate the fragile ceasefire based on recommendations made by the Mitchell Commission led by former US senator George Mitchell.
Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel and maintains close consultations with Arafat, wants a full implementation of these recommendations which call for a ceasefire, a halt to Israeli settlements and the resumption of peace talks between the two sides.
In talks Tuesday in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Jordanian monarch renewed his appeal for immediate Israeli steps to ease the blockade on the Palestinian territories and facilitate the movement of Palestinian laborers.
Powell will fly from Jordan to Paris on his way home for a brief meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, who is often critical of US policies -- AMMAN (AFP)
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