His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday warned that inter-Palestinian tensions will have negative repercussions on the Palestinian cause.

"Time is crucial," the King told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting here.

The King and Abbas called for an end to "Israeli aggression against the Palestinians — which is claiming innocent victims".

The two leaders also discussed worsening conditions in the Palestinian territories.

For his part, Abbas briefed King Abdullah on "efforts to overcome the crisis and set up a [Palestinian] national unity government”.

"Unfortunately the tensions persist," Abbas said, according to Petra. "Efforts to form a national unity government are still present.”

King congratulates Ban

Meanwhile, King Abdullah on Sunday welcomed the election of South Korea's Ban Ki-moon as the new UN secretary general, and said that Amman was ready to work with him to find lasting peace in the Middle East.

"Jordan is looking forward to working with the new secretary general in finding peaceful solution to world crises, particularly in the Middle East," the King said in a message to Ban.

"I am sure that you will bolster the role of the UN through this important post in achieving its message to preserve and cement world peace and security," the King was quoted as saying after congratulating Ban on his election.

Ban, a career diplomat, will take over from Ghana's Kofi Annan to become the United Nations eighth secretary general and the first Asian in the post since U Thant of Burma led the organization from 1961 to 1971.

The Jordan Times