RAMALLAH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a Middle East regional tour, met on Sunday morning with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank City of Ramallah.

    Senior Palestinian officials said that Rice arrived in Ramallahon Sunday morning and immediately held a meeting with Abbas at al-Muqata'a building, the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority.

    "President Abbas would discuss with Rice a series of issues, mainly on reviving the stalled peace process and the implementation of the road map plan for peace in the Middle East,"said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

    Erekat told Voice of Palestine Radio that the Abbas would also discuss with Rice the issues of ending the Israeli military occupation, the crossings, the Palestinian tax and customs money held by Israel.

    On Saturday, Rice met separately with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Last month, Livni proposed setting up a provisional Palestinian state, with a border based on the separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.

    Israeli media reported that Livni reiterated that Israel was eager to see two states living side by side with peace.