WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Wednesday played down Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for a Mideast conference to try to end decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    "We believe there will be an appropriate time for an international conference, but we are not at that stage now, and I don't expect that we will be there by the fall," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

    McClellan was commenting on Putin's announcement in Cairo earlier that he hoped to host such a gathering, with "all concerned parties" as well as the international diplomatic "quartet" on the Middle East.

    The diplomatic quartet, grouping Russia, the United States, theEuropean Union and the United Nations, drafted a Middle East peaceplan known as the roadmap which calls for a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

    However, McClellan added, "We appreciate President Putin's commitment to the road map. Russia is a valued member of the quartet. And we appreciate their support for the road map."

    While visiting Cairo, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposedan international summit in Moscow this fall to seek a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Enditem