Clinton to Moscow for Mideast talks (Roundup)

Mar 15, 2010, 18:56 GMT

Washington - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Moscow this week to hold talks with international partners on the Middle East peace process, the State Department said Monday.

Clinton is due to be in the Russian capital Thursday and Friday, and will meet with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

The European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States form the international mediating group for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict known as the 'Quartet.'

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, the Quartet representative for economic development in Palestinian territories, and US special envoy George Mitchell will also attend, the State Department said.

Clinton's trip will come amid a diplomatic rift between the United States and Israel. Washington in angry at Israel for announcing the construction of 1,600 new housing units in occupied East Jerusalem just as there were signs the peace process was ready to get back on track.

The announcement came Tuesday while Vice President Joe Biden was in Israel putting on the final stamp on plans to hold indirect talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians quickly threatened to withdrawal.

The US viewed the new construction as a slap in the face, particularly while Biden was in the country. Clinton has described it as insulting.

Israel has said it was a bureaucratic mishap and was not intended to embarrass Biden or Washington.