US Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni concluded on Sunday night his four-day mediation mission between the Israelis and Palestinians with no promises from both sides.
The US consulate in Jerusalem said in a statement issued before his departure that Zinni had set in motion preparations for a Middle East truce.
The statement said Zinni had started to lay the foundations needed to implement a cease-fire plan to end the more than 15 months of bloodshed between Israel and the Palestinians.
"After four days of intensive discussions with Israelis and Palestinians, it is clear that, while serious challenges remain, there are real opportunities for progress," it said.
It gave no timetable for the possible implementation of a truce, but said security talks between the two sides -- some with US involvement as Sunday -- would continue after Zinni left later in the day.
"Zinni will return to the region in the near future to assess what the parties have been able to accomplish in the bilateral and trilateral meetings (he) has asked them to convene," the statement added.
( January 7, 2002)
