Friday, May 20 2005 18:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today (May 20, 2005) said that Parliamentary elections in Palestine, slated for July 17, would not be deferred.

"We have no intention to postpone the elections," Abbas, who briefed the Indian leadership on the evolving situation in the Middle East, told reporters at Delhi Airport before leaving for Cairo at the end of his two-day visit in New Delhi.

The Palestinian leader termed his talks with President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson Sonia Gandhi as "very useful".

"We believe our relationship is very close and very strong. We have the same attitude, the same policy," he said.

Asked about the truce holding on in the Middle East, Abbas, who was elected to the top job after the death of Yasser Arafat, said, "I hope all parties will stick to it."

To a question whether there was any assurance from the Indian leadership on assisting and expediting the peace process there, he said, "We know the Indian position. They are for justice...and for an independent Palestinian State."

On if Palestine was concerned about India's growing relations with Israel, Abbas said this was a sovereign decision of the Indian Government.