JERUSALEM, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The Palestinian Authority withdrew its support Sunday for joint Israeli-Palestinian documents to be presented at upcoming peace talks in the United States.

The move signals further deterioration of the already speculative meetings scheduled for late November or early December in Annapolis, Md.

"At present time, we don't have a joint statement or even a draft for one," an unnamed Israeli diplomat was quoted as saying Sunday on the news Web site Ynetnews. "The Palestinians have backpedaled to square one, to the first day of negotiations."

The stalemate, however, did not signal a serious crisis in the eyes of Israeli officials.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner the mood was positive for the talks and stated the very scheduling of the meeting signals development in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Annapolis cannot be a failure because its very existence constitutes a success," the prime minister said in Haaretz Sunday. "We are talking about the launching of negotiations that have not been held for seven years, in the presence of dozens of countries before the entire world."

British troops 'disillusioned' report says

LONDON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A top general in the British Army says underfunding and an "unsustainable" level of operations leaves troops "devalued, angry and suffering."

Gen. Richard Dannatt, chief of the general staff, released a report saying the Army is understaffed and overextended, leaving troops "disillusioned" with military service, The Sunday Telegraph reported Sunday.

"We must strive to give individuals and units ample recuperation time between operations, but I do not underestimate how difficult this will be to achieve whilst under-manned and with less robust establishments than I would like," Dannatt said in the report.

His Briefing Team Report says the long-term consequences of the troop commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq strain familial relationships and is "mortgaging the goodwill of our people."

Dannatt said the Army requires improvements in pay and medical services and says the military chain of command needs to address the issues if recruitment levels are expected to meet current needs.

Major whale hunt underway despite critics

SHIMONOSEKI, Japan, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A fleet of Japanese ships embarked Sunday on a mission to kill more than 1,000 whales, despite strong criticism from environmentalists.

While environmentalists have condemned the whale hunt, government officials have said it is necessary for scientific reasons. Three catcher boats were sent out Sunday to complete the controversial mission, The Telegraph on Sunday said. The fleet also includes a huge processing ship and two spotter boats.

Despite the government's claims, Greenpeace Japan spokesman Junichi Sato said the true reason for the large-scale hunt, which is to last until April, is to obtain whale meat to meet consumer demand, the British newspaper reported.

"This is not about research," Sato said. "Most of the whale meat will end up in Japanese pubs and supermarkets. The biggest issue here is nationalistic pride. The Japanese government refuses to give it up because of criticism from outside the country."

The Telegraph said Sato's group has plans to follow the hunting fleet during its mission, which reportedly also includes targeting 50 endangered humpback whales.

New witness emerges in Madeleine case

PRAIA DA LUZ, Portugal, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- A witness in the Madeleine McCann case claims she saw a woman pass the missing girl to another man in central Portugal two days after the reported abduction.

The witness claims she was suspicious when she saw a woman hand "a baby in a blanket" to a man days after the girl's disappearance, The Daily Mail reported Sunday.

The exchange allegedly occurred 100 miles from the resort town of Praia da Luz where the McCann family was vacationing.

The two involved in the swap were later seen leaving the scene in separate vehicles. Neither was Portuguese, the witness said.

Investigators claim they know the identity of the couple involved in the sighting and notified Portuguese detectives.

Officials believe the incident is linked to earlier witness testimony in which Jane Tanner claimed to see a man carrying a child she later believed to be Madeleine McCann.

Madeleine McCann vanished from a vacation apartment May 3 in Praia da Luz, Portugal.