Bethlehem: French President Nicolas Sarkozy today spoke out strongly in favour of a Palestinian state after talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank town of Bethlehem.

"The security of Israel is non-negotiable for France, but the creation of a viable, democratic, modern state for the Palestinians is a priority for France," he said at a news conference with Abbas in the Biblical town.

Later, preparing to head home from Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, his departure ceremony was disrupted by a security scare. A shot rang out when a member of the Israeli guard of honour killed himself in what police said was a suicide.

Bodyguards rushed Sarkozy and first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to their plane.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres were taken to their armoured cars, but later boarded the plane to bid farewell to the Sarkozys.

Sarkozy, who spent three days in Israel and the occupied West Bank, pledged in Bethlehem to work toward the creation of a Palestinian state.

"We will use the same strength, the same commitment we used in ensuring Israel s security," said Sarkozy, who yesterday had addressed the Israeli parliament.

He reiterated his call for Israel to freeze Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank, widely seen as a major hurdle to already slowly moving peace talks.

The French leader, who urged Israel to ease travel restrictions in the West Bank, said "it was a pleasure to come here to Bethlehem to see what the checkpoints were like, the wall, the misunderstandings on either side. This must stop."

Source : PTI