Palestinian Says U.S. 'Too Late' On U.N. Bid.

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said Thursday that last-ditch American and international efforts to prevent the Palestinians from applying for membership in the United Nations this month were ''too late.'' He said the Palestinians still intended to submit an application for recognition of Palestinian statehood to the Security Council as a first step, at risk of a confrontation with the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]