Brazilian President visits Jerusalem

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva has visited Jerusalem. He met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to boost peace talks, despite Israel's controversial building plan.

Lula laid a wreath and lit the memorial flame at the Yad Vashemm Holocaust memorial, before travelling to the West Bank town of Bethlehem where he held talks with Abbas.

He is the first Brazilian head of state to visit the region. Lula said he was seeking to bring a fresh outlook to the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, shakes hands with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas during a welcome ceremony at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday March 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Musa al-Shaer, pool)