[08/March/2010]

Washington, March 08 (Saba) - US Vice President Joe Biden left Washington Monday morning for the Middle East where he begins a tour of Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Egypt in a bid to prepare ground for Mideast peace talks.

Arab Foreign Ministers and the Palestinian Authority have agreed lately to resume the indirect talks with Israel with an American mediation. Biden is scheduled to begin his tour in Israel where he will meet Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Leader of the Opposition Tzipi Livni on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Biden will meet the Four Quartet envoy Toni Blair, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Biden will fly to Amman Thursday to meet King Abdullah II of Jordan. Meanwhile, US sources said that Biden''s quick visit to Cairo as part of this tour was postponed as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is currently outside the country for treatment.

Saba