Abbas extends olive branch to Israel

"We offer the hand of peace to our neighbours and we hope that the response will be positive," the new leader said after being confirmed as the winner of Sunday's election to find a replacement for the late Yasser Arafat.

Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen, won 62.32 percent of the vote, more than 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival.

US President George W. Bush, who boycotted Arafat, invited Abbas to Washington for talks in a congratulatory telephone call.

A senior aide in Ariel Sharon's office said the Israeli prime minister was ready to meet the winner "as soon as possible" before the vote was even finished.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said the meeting could take place within two weeks.

But Abbas acknowledged that there was a lot to do.

"The elections are only the beginning, not the end. We have a programme full of things to do in order to achieve peace," the moderate former prime minister said.

The size of his victory grants Abbas the legitimacy he needs in any new talks with Israel.

There were no massive displays of jubilation in the West Bank and Gaza after the election results, but Abbas will take over from Arafat with new-found Israeli cooperation and enthusiastic backing from the international community.

Bush said "I look forward to talking to him at the appropriate time. I look forward to welcoming him here to Washington if he chooses to come here."