Gaza, March 18, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton arrived Gaza City today for an hours-long visit to the Gaza Strip.

Ashton's first stop was a UN-run girls school in the Jabalya refugee camp, in north Gaza city.

The English baroness was also due to hold talks with UN officials during her brief visit to the coastal territory which is still struggling with the aftermath of the devastating 22-day Israeli war launched in December 2008.

Ashton would not meet any officials of the Hamas movement which has ruled Gaza since June 2007.

Ashton was on a five-day tour of the region ahead of Friday's meeting of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet in Moscow. She has also visited Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel as well as the West Bank.

Source: agencies