His Majesty King Abdullah held talks Sunday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the first leg of a four-nation tour aimed at relaunching Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

Their meeting focused on efforts by rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government following a power-sharing deal that has complicated efforts to kick-start peace talks and so far failed to secure an end to a crippling Western aid boycott.

The two leaders called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fateh Party and the Islamist Hamas movement to implement the unity accord signed in Mecca on February 8 and to unify ranks, said Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad.

He said Sunday's meeting was part of an effort to create a "common Arab vision" to restart the Middle East peace process ahead of the Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia in March.

Awad said the final result of the summit will be presented at a meeting of the so-called Quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia to be held in Egypt in April. The tour by King Abdullah coincides with regional visits by Palestinian leaders to build support for their planned new unity government and any future negotiations with Israel.

The King is seeking a united Arab position to revive the peace process and help both Israelis and Palestinians overcome obstacles hindering their return to the negotiating table. The King is consulting several Arab leaders before heading to Washington for talks with President George W. Bush and top administration officials. On Monday, King Abdullah will head to Saudi Arabia, followed by Britain and then the United States.

Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are also keen on reviving an Arab initiative adopted in 2002, effectively offering Arab recognition of Israel in exchange for the return of territory occupied by the Israel since 1967.

Agencies