Israel (r) sat down with the Palestinians (l) and other Arab neighbours

England have

US President George Bush has encouraged Arabs and Israelis to "lay down the past" in his opening speech to the Middle East peace conference in Spain.

It is the first time in 43 years Israel has sat down with all its Arab neighbours to discuss peace.

"Territorial compromise is essential for peace" said Mr Bush. "We seek peace, real peace. And by real peace I mean treaties"

"If we cannot summon the courage to lay down the past for ourselves then let us do it for the children"

Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev added "we have a unique opportunity, and it would be unforgivable to miss this opportunity. Success is in everybody's interests."

Reaction to the opening day was positive from all sides.

Israel praised President Bush for promising not to railroad them into any agreements while the Palestinians believed he showed support for their hopes for some form of self-government.

The conference has been organised by the US and Soviet Union and has taken months of careful preparation.

Representatives from all Israel's immediate Arab neighbours were present at the Madrid Royal Palace including a surprise appearance from Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Sultan who had not been expected to attend.

The opening day of the conference will be followed by one-on-one sessions between Israel and each of its neighbours and then wider discussions in the hope of finding a solution to end the current troubles.

The aim of the talks is for all sides to resolve their rival territorial claims. Areas including the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem are the main points of contention.  

Shock waves from the explosion were detected at Kew Observatory

The device believed to 50 megatons, equivalent to be 50 million tons of TNT, caused the biggest ever man-made explosion.

The test, the 26th in the current series, was carried out over the Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya despite repeated objections from the West.

Shockwaves from the explosion were first picked up at the seismological institute at Uppsala in Sweden at 0830 hours GMT.

They were two-and-a-half times as powerful as Russia's last test, which was carried out a week ago using a 30 megaton weapon,

A spokesman at the Kew Observatory in Britain where shockwaves from the explosion were recorded at about 1151 hours GMT said: "This was a big one alright.

"It's the largest such recording I have ever known."

A Foreign Ministry spokesman in Russia refused to make any comment.

Earlier today the United Nations had sent an official appeal asking Russia not to continue with its nuclear testing programme.

Lord Home, British Foreign minister, said, in a statement: "The British government wholeheartedly deplores the news of this latest and largest of the Russian nuclear explosions.

"Eighty-seven nations appealed to the Soviet leaders to spare the world the explosion of the 50-megaton bomb, which endangers the health of many millions of people.

"The British government share the indignation which will be universally felt at this wanton disregard for the welfare and safety of the human race."

The United States government insists it has known for many years how to make 50 and 100-megaton bombs but remains convinced that smaller weapons are more effective.

A White House spokesperson said: "It is a scientific fact that five 20 megaton weapons will cause more damage than one 100 megaton weapon."

indignation: a feeling of righteous anger（愤慨；义愤）