AMMAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a joint¹ press conference with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Amman on Monday that Mideast peace talks are "moving in the right direction."

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a joint news conference in Amman March 31, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Meanwhile, she criticized Israel for continuing building new settlements, saying it does not conform to the roadmap peace plan which was revived at the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference last November.

"Settlement activity should stop; Expansion should stop," Rice said.

According to statistics of Israeli government, Israel has approved the construction of almost 1,700 homes in contested territory since renewing peace talks with the Palestinians at the U.S.-sponsored summit in November.

In the press conference, Abbas said he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on April 7. "My meeting with the prime minister will be held soon; I believe it will be on April 7."

This will be their first face-to-face talks in seven weeks after Abbas suspend the talks with Olmert since March in protest at a deadly Israeli strike on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Abbas expressed his confidence at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement as planned at the end of 2008, which will help establish a Palestinian state.

Rice started a shuttle visit to the Middle East on Saturday in a bid to discuss practical ways to improve the lives of the Palestinians.