UNITED NATIONS: Palestine took another step towards seeking full membership of the United Nations as it formally submitted applications on Wednesday to join 15 international agencies, surprising the United States and Israeli officials involved in peace talks.

At a press conference in New York, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyadh Mansour confirmed that the applications were signed by President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday evening as part of a move to gain the benefits of statehood outside the negotiation process.

Mr Mansour told correspondents that the leadership had shown that it would no longer be a passive observer, and that it would use its growing leverage for justice for the Palestinians.

The letters were delivered on Wednesday morning to Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator in the region, and, in relevant cases, to representatives of Switzerland and the Netherlands, Mr Mansour told reporters.

Riyad al-Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, delivered the letters to Mr Serry at a meeting in the West Bank city of Jericho with Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. The Palestinian envoy also personally delivered 15 letters to Chef de-Cabinet of the UN Secretary General, Ms Susana Malcora.

That makes two sets of letters now in the custody of the world body, UN spokesman Farhan Ul Haq confirmed.