RAMALLAH, March 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday the statements by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the settlement expansion in the West Bank were encouraging.Abbas also stressed the importance of translating statements into actions on the ground.

    "It is impossible to see settlement activities continue in sucha way, which would be a big disaster in the future," Abbas told reporters.

    Rice was quoted by the Los Angeles Times on Friday as criticizing Israel for settlement expansion in the West Bank,saying it ran counter with US policies and could harm peace efforts.

    Also on Saturday, Palestinian Minister of Civilian Affairs Mohammed Dahlan told reporters that the Israeli policy of settlement expansion was aimed at weakening Abbas.Dahlan said Israel, which weakened Abbas when he was prime minister two years ago, was trying to weaken him again.

    "Israel wants to see Abbas falling again," said Dahlan,referring to the first Abbas government which collapsed in 2003 dueto disputes with the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat overcontrol of the security apparatuses and reforms.

    Meanwhile, Dahlan denied any Israeli-Palestinian coordination inimplementing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan. Enditem