Abbas: Visit to Washington was frank and successful

Sep 30, 2008, 8:29 GMT

Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that his visit to Washington was frank and successful.

He told reporters in Ramallah that his meeting with US President George W Bush last week 'was mainly frank,' adding that 'we said exactly what we had and what was needed.'

Abbas made the statements after attending special prayers for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, saying 'the visit was successful by all measures.'

Muslims Tuesday celebrated the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, with the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Abbas said his wish for the holiday is that the Palestinian people achieve national unity and get their independent state.

'We pray to God that we can return to our national unity and have our independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. This is our wish for this year and we hope God will grant us this wish,' he said.

The Palestinian factions, chiefly rivals Fatah and Hamas, intend to start a national dialogue in Egypt immediately after the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday. Hamas and Fatah have been at loggerheads since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June last year, ousting Fatah.

The Palestinian president also said he will work with any Israeli premier the Israeli people elect, stressing that 'we do not chose the prime minister of Israel. They chose their prime minister and we work with whoever they chose.'

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned from office last week, with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni asked to form a government.