Source : Reuters  [:20:10]

After talks with Powell on Sunday, the Israeli government had agreed to release 180 Palestinian detainees and allow 25,000 Palestinian labourers to enter Israel, security sources said.

The moves were apparently in response to Powell's request that Israel and the Palestinians start practical, conciliatory steps even before Israel endorses the "road map" peace plan, which aims for an independent Palestinian state in 2005.

But shortly after the Israeli measures were announced, the army reinstated a ban on Palestinian travel in and out of the Gaza Strip, citing security concerns, effectively freezing a decision on Sunday to allow Gaza labourers to travel in and out.

It was not clear how long the ban would stay in effect. Palestinians also noted that travel restrictions on their movements between cities in the West Bank, edicts imposed after suicide bombings in Israel, remained in effect.

Israeli political sources said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would likely meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas before the end of the week to discuss the plan. They said security talks had secretly resumed between the sides last week.

Powell is on a Middle East tour seeking support for the plan, which the United States and fellow mediators gave to the parties after Abbas took office last month in a reform drive promoted by Washington.

After meeting on Monday morning with envoys of the European Union ,United Nations (news - web sites) and Russia -- the other members of the mediating Quartet -- Powell flew to Cairo to seek Arab support for the peace plan and Palestinian reform.

Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza after Palestinians began their uprising for statehood in late 2000. Sharon demands Palestinians end violence and disarm militant groups before peace talks can resume.