Palestinian President Abbas 'will not waiver on UN bid'

Palestinians are "morally, politically and legally correct" to request full membership of the UN, a spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas has said.

Negotiator Nabil Shaath was speaking after Barack Obama's assertion that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only come through direct negotiations between the two parties.

In an address to the General Assembly earlier, the US president said that "peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN".