RAMALLAH: The Arab League and world leaders yesterday urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to stay in office despite his announcement he will not seek re-election.

League chief Amr Moussa assured Abbas of his support amid small demonstrations urging him to change his mind in the West Bank towns of Ramallah, Hebron and Jericho.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he will travel to the region soon and hold talks with Abbas, whose decision was seen in Paris as a new "threat to peace".

"I will press him to obstinately continue his work for peace, that is, for the creation of a Palestinian state," Kouchner said in Paris.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he did not want to prejudice "difficult decisions that lie ahead" for Abbas, but stressed that he wanted to "make sure" to speak with him.

Palestinian officials said the president was disappointed with US efforts to halt Israeli settlement construction, which he has set as a condition for peace talks to resume.

His frustration was said to have peaked when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised an Israeli proposal for some curbs on new settlements despite Washington's calls for a full freeze.

However, Clinton said, "I look forward to working with President Abbas in any new capacity."

His Fatah party said Abbas still enjoys its full support, and the PLO rejected his decision.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon made clear Tel Aviv would prefer Abbas to stay on for now.

Aides said he was unlikely to step down as it would inflict damage on Fatah and the PLO.