"We hope that a truce agreement would be reached soon because we have been waiting for reaching the truce for a long time," said Abbas.

Asked about his initiative to launch a comprehensive dialogue, Abbas said "all depends on Hamas movement... we are ready to continue our efforts if Hamas wants to reach a full agreement that unifies Gaza with the West Bank."

Earlier this month, Abbas presented an initiative to launch a comprehensive internal dialogue among all Palestinian factions including Fatah and Hamas to end the current Palestinian crisis.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah June 15, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) 

Rice, for her part, said she talked with the Israelis and the Palestinians on how to make a progress in the negotiations relaunched at the US-sponsored Annapolis peace conference last November, adding that she also discussed with the two sides on "improving the Palestinians living conditions".

Rice revealed that she would attend a three-way meeting on Monday that would include Prime Minister of the Palestinian caretaker government Salam Fayyad and Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak.

"The meeting will discuss the commitments of the two sides to implement the roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East," said Rice.

She also disclosed that she would hold a meeting with chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni later on Sunday "to try to make a progress in the peace negotiations."

Speaking about the Israeli settlements activities, Rice said there are "decisions and declarations that affect the confidence between the two sides, adding that "we should all encourage confidence between them."

Rice arrived in the region late Saturday, her sixth visit this year to follow up the progress of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which are intended to bring about a peace deal before US President George W. Bush steps down in January.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2008)