The Middle East Quartet of peace negotiators has made no progress on a statement to avoid a showdown between Palestinians and Israelis over Palestinian plans to seek full U.N. statehood, Reuters quoted Britain's foreign secretary as saying on Tuesday. William Hague told reporters that the objective of the Quartet -- the United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations -- is to get the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. "There is no progress (within the Quartet) to report as we speak," he said ahead of a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. -- SPA
