The United States’ special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has called on Israel and the Arab world to normalise relations.

Mr Mitchell was speaking on Sunday, at the end of the first day of a Middle East tour intended to breathe new life into peace talks in the region. He said peaceful talks between Israel and its neighbours were the only way to obtain stability in the region.

Mr Mitchell began his tour on Sunday with a visit to Damascus, where he spoke for one hour with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syria has said it is prepared, with certain conditions, to accept peace with Israel. However, one condition it says is not for negotiation is the return of the Golan Heights, which Israel seized in 1967 and has occupied ever since.

On Monday, Mr Mitchell is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. He will hold talks in Israel on Tuesday.