Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has blamed US President Barack Obama for delaying the resumption of Middle East peace talks.

Mr Abbas, in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, said Mr Obama had not been firm enough over his initial demands for a complete freeze in West Bank settlements.

Abbas added that the US administration had changed its stance on the matter after reassuring Palestinians that President Obama would force Israel to announce a complete settlement freeze.

He said was unsatisfied with the US president, as he no longer felt any optimism that the Obama administration would make demands on the Israelis over the settlement matter.

President Obama's special Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, has blamed Abbas for the stalled talks, saying the Palestinians are unenthusiastic due to their uncertainty about the outcome.