Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts    Israel launches Gaza assault

    RAMALLAH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Sudan and Yemen in an effort to put an end to the Israeli massive offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Saturday.

    Erekat told the "Voice of Palestine" radio that Abbas, who is currently in Jordan, would kick off a visit to Sudan on Saturday and was planned to arrive in Yemen on Monday.

    The Palestinian president is expected to hold talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omar el-Bashir, whose country now holds the Arab League presidency, said Erekat.

    Abbas will also meet with senior Yemeni officials over the crises in the Middle East during his visit to Yemen, he added.

    Erekat also called on the UN Security Council to intervene immediately in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which he termed as "a forgotten war", adding that the western world seemed more focused on the Israeli assault in Lebanon.

    Abbas embarked on a diplomatic tour on July 26 to seek support to end the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

    He has already visited Algeria, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Enditem