Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he hopes to reach a final peace agreement with Israel in a year or less.

Abbas made the remarks after being quoted by an Israeli daily as saying US President George Bush told him he is determined to reach a peace deal within a year.

Asked about this comment yesterday, Abbas told reporters at his headquarters: "We hope to have a comprehensive peace with the Israelis within a year or even less than that." He did not refer to any US assurances.

The Palestinian president also appeared to welcome reports that Olmert wants to formulate a joint statement on the contours of a Palestinian state in Gaza and most of the West Bank. Olmert's aides have confirmed the reports, but also hinted that such a "declaration of principles" would sidestep the most problematic issues, such as final borders and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

"What we noticed yesterday in statements and from what was published in (the Israeli daily) Haaretz is encouraging," Abbas said yesterday. "But we are waiting to hear it directly from the Israeli government."

Abbas did not specify which statement and which report he was referring to. Haaretz' report on Wednesday deal with the declaration of principles.

The Israeli daily Maariv yesterday quoted Abbas as saying that the US administration is eager to broker a final peace deal before the end of Bush's term in 2008.

"I heard this with my own ears from the (US) president himself and from Secretary of State Rice. They want to reach an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in the next year," Abbas was quoted as saying.

Asked by reporters yesterday about his plan to hold early elections, he said he has not set a date, but is determined to go ahead. "There is a desire and a decision to go for early presidential and legislative elections," he said after meeting with Yossi Beilin, the head of Israel's dovish Meretz Party.

(China Daily via agencies July 27, 2007)