Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was making his first official visit Sunday to Mauritania, one of only three Arab League nations with diplomatic relations with Israel. Abbas told reporters after his arrival late Saturday that he had discussed the Israel-Palestinian crisis with Mauritania President Maaoya Sid'Ahmed Ould Taya. He said Mauritania's ties with Israel weren't his concern. "Each one is sovereign to establish whatever relations it wishes," he said. Abbas, on his first official trip to Mauritania since his election in January as the Palestinian chief, was scheduled to depart Sunday, according to a report of the Associated Press.
