Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has recently had his first direct talks with senior Palestinians for nearly a year, sources on both sides have said. According to Israeli media reports, Mr. Sharon - who was re-elected last month - met Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Korea, also known as Abu Ala, on Wednesday.

"They discussed ways to reach a ceasefire and resume their talks," one unnamed Israeli official was quoted as saying by Reuter's news agency.

Palestinian officials said the meeting lasted less than two hours.

No side would disclose the location of the meeting, or whether the two planned to continue meeting.

The reports of the meeting come as Mr. Sharon continues efforts to put together a durable coalition government following the 28 January election, which gave his Likud party most seats but left it short of an overall majority.

Since coming to power two years ago after the current intifadha started, Mr. Sharon has resolutely refused to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He has accused Mr. Arafat of being behind attacks on Israeli targets, and has called for his removal as leader.

Kurei, Key Palestinian Negotiator

Qureia, 65, also known as Abu Ala, was a key negotiator in failed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. He is considered an Arafat confidante and a potential successor. He has maintained close ties with Israeli leaders, meeting with Sharon and former Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres about a year ago.

Palestinian sources said Qureia has had a number of telephone conversations with Sharon during the last year, but the two have not met since talks held over a year ago.

Occupation Army & American Ambassador to Israel Take Part in Talks

Israeli reports said Mr. Sharon's chief of staff Dov Weisglass and the US ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, took part in Wednesday's talks at the Israeli prime minister's ranch in the southern Negev desert.

Israel's Channel One public television also said that Mr. Sharon met Palestinian leader Mr. Arafat's deputy, Mahmoud Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - before last month's election.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, sits in his Jerusalem's office after signing a deal with Natan Sharansky, leader of Israel B'Aliyah party, Thursday, Feb. 6,