United Nations, Oct 30: In an apparent attempt to restart the stalled Middle East peace process, Moscow has asked the UN Security Council to endorse the road map drawn up by the "quartet" of the US, The European Union, Russia, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Under a resolution circulated by Russia yesterday, the Council would express support for the 'road map' but it is yet unclear how far Moscow would press the Council. It would also ask the parties to implement the 'road map' to achieve the vision of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace.

The Council members are yet to discuss the draft which is preliminary. But it ran into immediate opposition from Washington which argued that no government exists in Palestine and hence there was no point in going ahead with the resolution. However, it did not say whether it would veto if the resolution is pressed for vote with its officials saying it is too early for such a comment.

The "road map" lays down steps that the two states should take leading to establishment of Palestinian state by 2005. But Israeli demand for removal of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and a crackdown on militants and increasing suspicions among Palestinian about Tel Aviv's motives have brought the process to a virtual halt. Bureau Report