Al-Quds city, Nov 22, SPA -- The United States wants to take advantage of new opportunities in the Middle East and supportsPalestinian presidential elections set for Jan. 9, outgoingU.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Israel's primeminister on Monday. Powell spoke at the start of a meeting with Prime MinisterAriel Sharon. Powell was to hold talks with Palestinianleaders later Monday in the West Bank town of Jericho andvisit a voter registration office there. Powell said Monday that the United States will do what itcan to ensure peaceful elections. He said: "This is a moment of opportunity. We look forward to thePalestinian elections that will be held on January 9." Powell reiterated that the Palestinians must rein inmilitants. "Violence must be ended," he said. He said Israel and the Palestinians must renew their commitments in the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, which was launched in June 2003, but never got off the ground. "All sides must be prepared to meet their obligationsunder the road map," he said. The plan requires Israel tofreeze settlements in the first phase, and asks thePalestinians to dismantle militant groups.--SPA1137 Local Time 0837 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/218734