Abbas to meet with President Bush in Washington in late April

President George W. Bush has asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet with him at the White House in the last week of April. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says the exact date has not yet been set. Bush and Abbas last met in January, during a Mideast trip by the US president. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected in the region this weekend to get an update from Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the negotiations.