WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is sending his special Mideast envoy on an initial mission to the region for talks on keeping alive a fragile Gaza ceasefire with Israel and reviving Mideast negotiations.
State Department spokesman Robert A. Wood told reporters that George J. Mitchell leaves today on a visit to Israel, Egypt, the West Bank, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Wood said it was possible that Mitchell would add other stops.
Wood said the purpose is to consult with regional leaders on a range of issues, including facilitating a means of containing smuggling into Gaza in order to prevent the rearming of Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza. He said Mitchell will not meet with any Hamas leaders. -AP
