Canadian PM Urges for End to Middle East BloodshedCanadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien Sunday urged both Israel and Palestinian Authority to end bloodshed and return to the negotiation table."I have written to both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, expressing our concern and calling on them to do everything in their power to end the violence and to return to negotiations without delay," Chretien said in a statement. He said he believes "both leaders share a deep commitment to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace -- one that will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian people." He also called on all parties "to redouble their efforts at this critical moment" in support of the "significant accomplishments" toward peace that have been made over the past year. Up to 80 people have been killed and over 2,000 others injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Israeli opposition leader Sharon paid a visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif last Thursday. |
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