US Secretary State of Colin Powell is playing down the chances of securing a deal for Israel to hand over security control of the northern Gaza Strip to Palestinians despite progress in Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Arriving in Jordan ahead of a one-day visit to the Middle East where he will meet top Israeli and Palestinian officials, Mr Powell said: "The reports I have been getting is that there have been good conversations between the Palestinians and Israelis on security issues."
"The fact that we have the Palestinian and the Israeli security authorities talking about a handover in Gaza and talking seriously ... is progress."
US officials said Mr Powell's schedule tomorrow was fluid but that they expected it to include talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Jerusalem in the morning and with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas probably in Jericho in the afternoon.