Obama said to have meeting with Abbas

WASHINGTON, July 14 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his Mideast trip, a Palestinian official said Monday.

Obama, the U.S. senator from Illinois, also is expected to visit Israel, but officials could not confirm his itinerary, CNN reported. His meeting with Abbas July 23 in Ramallah was confirmed by Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.

The Obama campaign did not comment on the report.