CAIRO, Dec 15, SPA -- The Palestinians are calling for aninternational conference in Egypt to advance thelong-stalled road map plan for Mideast peace, but Americansupport is still lacking, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbassaid in remarks published Wednesday. "The Palestinian Authority has suggested viainternational and Arab contacts holding an internationalconference in Cairo to solve the Palestinian issue and forimplementing the road map, " Palestinian leader MahmoudAbbas was quoted as saying in the London-based pan-Arabdaily Al-Hayat. Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, said Britain isenthusiastic to hold this conference while the U.S. isstill reluctant, but contacts are still under way with allparties to secure approval to hold it. Egypt supportsholding such a conference, which Israeli officials havesaid is premature. "I have hope and I believe that peace has to come, butthe Israeli side might not want it to, especially thegovernment of (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon,"Abbas was quoted as saying. "But we have to try and carryout our duty. If the Israeli side won't reciprocate, thiswould be the problem of the Israeli people andinternational community, and they will handle thatrejection and not us." Abbas is the front-runner in the Jan. 9 election tosucceed Arafat as Palestinian Authority president. Abbas, apragmatist, has the support of Israel and the internationalcommunity.--SPA1255 Local Time 0955 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/225086