The United States again rejected Palestinian plans to seek recognition for an independent state unilaterally from the United Nations

The United States again Tuesday rejected Palestinian plans to seek recognition for an independent state unilaterally from the United Nations.

"We don't believe it's a good idea, we don't believe it's helpful," said US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner. "We continue to press both sides to begin talking again in direct negotiations," Toner said, according to AFP.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas signalled on Tuesday that he was determined to pursue efforts to ask the UN Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state in September.

During a visit to Tunisia, Abbas said: "We are counting on the words of US President Barack Obama who said his vision is to see a Palestinian state this coming September according to a deadline set by the Quartet."

"More than 130 countries have already recognized a Palestinian state on 1967 borders", the Palestinian Authority president said. "This number has the potential to reach 140 or 150", he continued.

Abbas said that Western European countries, such as Britain and France, were also likely to accept the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Abbas is scheduled to visit France on Wednesday for talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy on the Palestinian state issue.