ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: President General Pervez Musharraf and King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday called for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and restoration of its sovereignty, stressing that durable peace in the Middle East could only be achieved through the resolution of the Palestine issue.

“It is essential that Israeli withdrawal and restoration of Lebanon sovereignty and integrity take place urgently so that the root cause of the recurring problems in the Middle East could be addressed,” President Musharraf told mediapersons after formal talks with King Abdullah at the Aiwan-i-Sadr here.

The two leaders agreed that there was an urgent need to put the peace process back on track for finding an honourable solution to the Palestine issue which could only be achieved by ending Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.

They described their talks as very productive that covered a wide spectrum of bilateral as well as regional and international issues of concern and interest to the two countries.

“We have total consonance of views on regional and international issues, especially those concerning the Ummah,” the president said after a 90-minute-long meeting with King Abdullah who flew in here early on Tuesday.

President Musharraf urged the international community, and more so the OIC, to extend generous help to Lebanon and Palestine in their rebuilding efforts.—APP