WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will visit the United States on Oct. 20 to discuss ways to pursue the Middle East peace process following the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a US official said on Wednesday.

    US President George W. Bush and Abbas are to discuss "the way forward," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

    Abbas reportedly said in Cairo earlier in the day that he would travel to Washington to seek US President Bush's help in putting an end to the escalating violence between Israel and Palestinian militants.

    Prior to his scheduled visit to Washington, Abbas is scheduled for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on October 2, their first encounter since Israel completed its pullout from Gaza on Sept. 12.

    Violence between Israelis and Palestinians has renewed in the past few weeks, damaging hopes that Israel's pullout from Gaza, part of Sharon's plan for "disengaging" from conflict with the Palestinians, would improve chances for peace. Enditem