United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met yesterday morning with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, following a tour of the West Bank separation fence in the Al-Ayada refugee camp near Bethlehem.

"It saddens me deeply to see many people suffering as a result of the establishment of the separation fence, which prevents them from enjoying any possibility for basic sustenance," he said. "This has strengthened my determination and commitment to advance peace in the Middle East."

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During a joint press conference yesterday with Abbas, Ban welcomed the formation of the PA unity government, but called on it to accept international demands and reimpose law and order in the territories. Ban said "the time is not ripe" to meet with the government's Hamas members. Ban laid a wreath at former PA chairman Yasser Arafat's grave and met with the parents of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Said Nemer, a prisoners affairs activist, said he presented Ban with a petition calling for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and the UN secretary-general promised to raise the issue during his meetings with Israeli officials.