UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The United States backs a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt to end the fighting in Hamas-ruled Gaza, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday.

"(We) support the Mubarak initiative," said the senior U.S. official, referring to a plan announced earlier on Tuesday by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak. The official declined to be named. (Reporting by Sue Pleming, editing by Jackie Frank)

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