UNITED NATIONS - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday gave UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an application for UN recognition of Palestinian statehood, a move opposed by the United States and Israel, a UN spokesman said.

Abbas met Ban at UN headquarters to present the formal request to the UN Security Council, which is expected to take time to consider it.

His appeal to the council reflects a loss of faith after 20 years of failed peace talks sponsored by the US, Israel's main ally, and alarm at relentless Israeli settlement expansion that is eating into the land Palestinians want for a state.