MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday called on Israelis and Palestinians to adhere to the Roadmap peace plan in the Middle East and abstain from unilateral actions, the Kremlin said.

"I am convinced that the resumption of the Middle East peace process requires energetic efforts of the international quartet, regional parties concerned, and the entire international community," Medvedev said in a message to his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak.

"It is extremely important for Palestinians and Israelis to strictly abide by the Middle East settlement Roadmap and to give up unilateral actions," he said.

The Russian president also said it was of great importance to create a Middle East zone free from all types of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery vehicles.

Under the internationally agreed Roadmap, Israel is obliged to freeze construction and remove unauthorized outposts built since 2001 on the Palestinian territories.

The issue of settlement construction in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has been the main obstacle to reviving peace talks with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced late November that construction would be limited in the West Bank, but not in East Jerusalem, which is also under Israeli control and which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

The Palestinian side has refused to return to the negotiating table until the construction is completely halted.