Cairo  - US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said on Thursday that the Middle East region should "take responsibility" and the necessary steps to resume the Arab-Israeli peace talks.

Mitchell made his comments after his meeting with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak in Cairo, where they discussed efforts to resume peace negotiations between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and Washington's efforts to stop settlement activities.

The meeting was attended by intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, who said that "Cairo sees there is an effort being made and an attempt to place the foundations for negotiations."

Mitchell arrived from Lebanon where he held brief consultations with President Michel Suleiman.

Earlier, in Israel, he had talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but these ended without agreement on the question of the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

After meeting Mubarak Thursday, Mitchell - on his fifth tour of the region since January - left for Jordan to continue talks with Arab states in the region, and was due to return to Israel Friday.

The Palestinians are demanding a total freeze of all Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank, while Netanyahu has said he is willing to accept only a temporary and limited moratorium.

The Israeli premier has said that, while he continues the policies of previous governments to build no new settlements, he will also allow the construction of nearly 3,000 new apartments within existing ones. Building in Jewish neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem will also continue, he has vowed.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated late Tuesday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would not meet with Netanyahu without an Israeli freeze on all settlement activities including building to accommodate population expansion, or so-called "natural growth."(dpa)