Clinton Returns Home for Middle East Peace Talks

U.S. President Bill Clinton returned home Sunday afternoon from a summit of industrialized countries in Japan to rejoin the Middle East peace talks at Camp David, Maryland.

The Air Force One landed at Andrews Air Force base near Washington. Clinton first flew by helicopter to the White House and was due to resume talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat at the presidential retreat later in the afternoon.

Before leaving Japan, he told reporters that some progress had been made in Camp David talks but refused to speculate on the chances of success.

During Clinton's three-day absence from Camp David, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stepped in to mediate the talks between Barak and Arafat.

Clinton said before his departure for Japan that he would give an assessment of the Camp David talks upon his return.

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/