Jack Straw has said that Britain will continue to seek progress in the Middle East peace process.

The foreign secretary was speaking after a meeting with his Israeli opposite number, Silvan Shalom.

Straw said that Israeli plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip were welcome, even though the move has been derailed by opposition within premier Arial Sharon's Likud party.

Straw added that Israeli actions should remain "within international law".

"We will work with the international community, and most importantly with the Israelis and Palestinians, to seek progress away from violence and towards peace," he said.

The British foreign secretary cautioned that in conflict situations there were always "great difficulties in getting dialogue going".

But he added that the road map "provides the only viable path to peace".

Shalom said the international community should step up pressure on the Palestinians to halt terror attacks on Israel.

He said Sharon was now "reviewing" how to proceed in the wake of last weekend's Likud vote against Sharon's pull-out plan, but remained determined to move forward.