WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush will have talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on October 20, the White House said Friday.

    "The president looks forward to discussing with President Abbas Palestinian efforts to improve governance, revive their economy, institute security reform, and fight terror," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

    "The two leaders will also discuss a range of other bilateral and regional issues," McClellan said two days after Abbas himself announced the visit.

    McClellan said on Thursday that the scheduled talks between Bush and Abbas would aim to make the most of Israel's controversial withdrawal from Gaza and would focus on Palestinian efforts to quell anti-Israel violence.

    "It is important that the Palestinian leadership act to end violence in Gaza and that means policing Gaza to prevent violence from occurring in the first place and we are there to support them as they do so," the spokesman said.

    Abbas said in Cairo that he expected the Bush administration to rein in its ally Israel, which has carried out raids on militant targets inside the Gaza Strip after it pulled out troops and settlers from the territory earlier this month. Enditem