The United States is closely following what happens in the Middle East and will work with new Palestinian leadership, visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Mexico City Tuesday.  

"We will see what happens in the days ahead, but our commitment to the two-state solution on the basis of the roadmap ... remains intact," he told the press after meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez.

The top US diplomat said that his country is closely following the changes in the Middle East, adding that he knew Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat is gravely ill.

The US will work with whatever leaders Palestinians choose after Arafat's demise, he said.

Powell also told the press that the war in Iraq and fighting terrorism would be priorities in the second term of US President George W. Bush.

The elections in Iraq will take place in January as planned, said Powell, adding the United States will strengthen cooperation with Pakistan and Afghanistan to defeat al-Qaeda and the remaining Taliban fighters.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2004)