His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday welcomed US President George W. Bush's call for an international conference to revive Middle East peace talks, describing it as "a step in the right direction”.

“The call would open the door for tangible progress in the peace process, which should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” the King told Bush over the telephone.

King Abdullah also hailed as a "constructive step" President Bush's declaration that his administration would extend $190 million in economic aid to the Palestinian Authority this year.

The Jordan Times