Abbas receives rousing reception in Ramallah

Palestinian leader addresses jubilant crowd on returning from New York after submitting a historic statehood bid.
Last Modified: 25 Sep 2011 11:12

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of Palestinian Authority (PA), has arrived to a hero's welcome in the West Bank city of Ramallah following his return from submitting a historic UN membership bid.

In a brief speech to a jubilant crowd outside the president's compound on Sunday, Abbas said: "I headed to the United Nations carrying your message, your need of an independent state. The whole world met our demand with respect and appreciation.

"We are powerful and strong by your demands, so hold your heads high, you are Palestinians."

Abbas also ruled out any peace talks without a "complete halt" to Israeli settlement building.

"There will be no negotiations without international legitimacy and a complete halt to settlements," he said.

in full: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/2011925104155882960.html