U.S. asks Palestinians to support future Iraqi government

[bemildred]

Seems garbled at the beginning.

m Powell to Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil
Sha'ath, marks the first time the Americans
have attempted to include the Palestinians in
broader regional diplomacy, Sha'ath said
Saturday evening.

It could signal a warming of
U.S.-Palestinian ties after a
frosty period of
disagreements over the role
of Yasser Arafat and the
approach toward militants.

"This is progress in
American-Palestinian
relations, because usually
they discuss with us issues
that are related to the Palestinian-Israeli
track," he said. "Now they are discussing with
us issues on the regional level, and this is
very interesting."

Chuck Hunter, a spokesman for the U.S. Consulate
in Jerusalem, said he could not confirm that
the letter was sent.

Haaretz