Political parties hail Mideast truce

Both the Nationalist and the Labour parties have welcomed the truce declared by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Tuesday's summit in Egypt.

PN international secretary Jason Azzopardi said this was without doubt one of the most important moments in the relations between the two parties involved in the conflict.

The PN said it believed the truce also brought big responsibilities for those who were in a position to help in the quest for peace.

Labour's main foreign policy spokesman, Leo Brincat, said the truce was a good basis for the establishment of a Palestinian state living side by side with a secure Israel.

He praised the United States for pledging to provide aid to the Palestinian Authority.

He said the declaration of a truce was the first historic step in the right direction after negotiations were frozen for the past four years.