Palestinian president to check out Egypt, Italy, Morocco

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Egypt Sunday ahead of going to Italy and Morocco, an official at Abbas' office mentioned Sunday.

Abbas is scheduled to meet chief of the military council Hussein Tantawi in Cairo Monday, added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Soon after that, Abbas will visit Italy to participate within the celebration marking the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification. Although in Rome, Abbas will meet the foreign ministers of France and Norway along with other European officials.

On Saturday, Abbas will arrive in Morocco to meet its king Mohammed VI.

In his tour, Abbas will go over the stillness engulfing Israeli- Palestinian peace course of action and the Palestinian drive to get recognition and membership inside the United Nations, as outlined by the official.

Earlier Sunday, an official said that the Palestinian leadership will begin procedures to request a membership within the United Nations in July.

Saeb Erekat, a member with the PLO's Executive Committee, mentioned the Palestinians will coordinate with Arab states to move for the UN immediately after the mid of July.

Speaking to Voice of Palestine radio from Doha, Erekat mentioned that the Arab states will arrange with members from the Quartet, in particular the United states, "to prevent any veto on the Palestinian demand" to join the UN.

Just after its meeting in Doha, the Arab League's follow up committee, focusing on peace among Israel and also the Arabs, decided to support the Palestinian leadership to get a complete membership at the UN.

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