http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/21/mideast.ap/index.html

Sunday, May 21, 2006; Posted: 8:13 a.m. EDT (12:13 GMT)

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Sunday that the raging power struggle between Palestinian factions must not deteriorate into civil war.

Abbas spoke after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Egypt -- his first high-level meeting with an Israeli official since the Islamic militant Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in March.

"Civil war is the red line that nobody dares cross, no matter which side they are on ... Civil war is forbidden," Abbas said.

His comments came as Palestinian officials said they foiled an assassination attempt against senior Gaza security chief Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist.

Security officials discovered a 154-pound roadside bomb shortly before Abu Shbak's motorcade was scheduled to pass through the area. The bomb's discovery on a road leading to Abu Shbak's home was likely to further inflame tensions between Abbas and the rival Hamas-led government. A day earlier, Abbas' intelligence chief in Gaza was seriously wounded in an explosion. (Full story)

Abbas said he told Livni during the 45-minute meeting that Israel and the Palestinians must restore regular contact and work toward resuming peace talks.

Livni said the road map peace plan drawn up by the international community remained in force, though she did not elaborate. The Israeli official also said the Hamas-led government must not gain world recognition.

"It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them ... This was part of the discussion," she said.