Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he considers Israeli leader Ariel Sharon a partner for peace talks and called for an immediate resumption of negotiations after the Palestinian election. After the (Sunday's) elections, we will start negotiations," Abbas told a news conference in Nablus, the West Bank's largest city. Asked whether Sharon is a partner, Abbas said: "Ariel Sharon is an elected leader and we will negotiate with him. We will put the road map on the table and say that we are ready to implement it completely," he said. The road map, a peace plan calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, has been stalled for more than a year. "I can't say that Ariel Sharon is not a partner, but whether or not he is serious we will explore it," he added.
