Bid for peace summit

Washington (Reuter) - The United States was attempting yesterday to set up an international summit on the fight against terrorism in the Middle East which President Bill Clinton would probably attend.

Egypt appears to be the leading contender to host the gathering of international leaders next week aimed at trying to salvage the peace process after the bomb attacks which claimed 57 lives in Israel in recent days.

US officials said representatives of the Palestinian Authority, the self-rule entity under President Yasser Arafat in lands formerly occupied by Israel, had asked Washington in the last 48 hours to help arrange a meeting.