RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not immediately halt talks with Israel if a limited settlement moratorium was not extended, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Sunday.

Asked in an interview conducted on Friday with the newspaper al-Hayat whether he would declare an end to the negotiations if the partial construction freeze did not continue, Abbas said: No, we will go back to the Palestinian institutions, to the Arab (League) follow-up committee.

He was referring to an Arab League forum that gave him the go-ahead to pursue direct peace talks with Israel that began on Sept. 2. The 10-month settlement moratorium expires at midnight (2200 GMT) on Sunday. (Writing by Tom Perry, Editing by Myra MacDonald)