Across Asia: Palestine

Pope for Palestinian state

Standing in the cradle of Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI told Palestinians yesterday that he understands their suffering and offered his strongest public backing yet for an independent Palestinian state."Mr President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders," the pontiff said upon his arrival in Bethlehem, standing alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.