Ramallah, Safar 21, 1432, Jan 25, 2011, SPA -- President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed Peru's decision to recognize a free and sovereign Palestinian State. In a statement to the Palestinian news agency "WAFA" on Monday, President Abbas said "We welcome the recognition by the Peruvian State as announced by its Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia, in which he pronounced the recognition of a free and sovereign Palestinian State." --SPA 11:43 LOCAL TIME 08:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/859008