Bush talks to Olmert, Abbas, Mubarak ahead of Mideast conference

U.S. President George W. Bushis seen in Washington in this November 1, 2007 file photo. REUTERS/Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush talked separately to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had on Wednesday, the White House said.

The telephone discussions focused on the upcoming Annapolis conference on Mideast peace, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. No details of Bush's discussions with the leaders are available.

The Bush administration is hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders next week in Washington and at an international conference in Annapolis, the capital of Maryland about 80 kilometers from the U.S. capital.

The conference, due to be held on Nov. 27, is supposed to launch the first direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on a peace deal in seven years.

In addition to leaders of Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authorities, some 50 countries and major international organizations are expected to attend the meeting. But the guest list is not expected to be final until this weekend.