US mediators to attend all sessions of Mideast talks

US mediators would attend all sessions of the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, which resumed in Washington, a Palestinian official has said.

The American observers would be present as "a third party and witness on the atmosphere of the negotiations so the Israeli side will not evade presenting its proposal", Xinhua quoted Riad Al-Maliki, Palestinian minister of foreign affairs, as saying.

The second round of negotiations would be held in Israel in mid-August.

The opening meeting of the talks took place in Washington Monday and Tuesday, where the two sides agreed to host the negotiation rounds on rotating basis.

Before the former negotiations broke down in 2010, US sponsors were rarely present during the discussions between Israel and the Palestinians.

Prior to the second meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet senior leaders of his Fatah party to assess the meeting in Washington and prepare for the next round of negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israel radio reported that 26 Palestinian prisoners would be released before the beginning of the second round of talks.

Israel has agreed to the Palestinian demands to free 104 prisoners.