WASHINGTON, April 23: The United States may host talks with Russia, the United Nations and the European Union in Washington early next month on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, diplomats and officials said on Tuesday.

The diplomats said the meeting could be on May 2. The State department declined to confirm the meeting but a senior US official said it was a possibility.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will be in Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on May 3 and Powell has suggested that Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique come at the same time, officials said.

The only other member of the group would be UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.—Reuters