Ramallah, April 24, SPA -- US President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell began a new attempt Friday to end 16 months of Israeli-Palestinian stalemate and launch indirect peace negotiations between the sides. Mitchell was meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". Talks were derailed more than a month ago over Palestinian objections to Israel's plans to go ahead with constructions in occupied East Jerusalem. "We know that there has been much skepticism and many difficulties, and there will be many difficulties to come," said Mitchell in Ramallah. But he said the US was "determined and persevered until we reach our common goal" of an "independent Palestinian state." --MORE 10:55 LOCAL TIME 07:55 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/772893