Berlin ? European and U.S. officials on Wednesday sought to play down emerging differences over the new Palestinian unity government during a meeting of a high-level group that monitors efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The meeting of the Quartet – made up of the United Nations, European Union, Russia and United States – came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas started a tour of Europe to promote the unity accord he reached with the Hamas militant group. He met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and also planned to visit Paris, Berlin and Brussels.

U.S. officials say they were surprised that Abbas struck the deal, which angered Israeli officials and cast a pall over a summit that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice brokered in Jerusalem this week between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

European officials have been much more receptive to the unity government, saying it might be a way to encourage Hamas to eventually accept a peace deal. European officials note that some possible members of the government, such as former Finance Minister Salaam Fayyad, are seasoned and respected Palestinians with no links to terrorism.