Bush puts his 'road map' to test

AQABA - United States President George W. Bush flew into Jordan for a landmark summit with the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers yesterday after getting welcome backing from Arab leaders for a "road map" to peace.

Bush's goal is to put the internationally backed plan - the most ambitious Middle East peace effort in more than two years - into motion with initial confidence-building steps that carry heavy political risks for Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas.

The President will hold separate sessions with the two prime ministers before a trilateral meeting.

"The President's objective in today's meeting is to follow through on the two meetings [in Jerusalem last month] that have taken place between Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Abbas to help them start implementing the road map," a White House spokesman said.

Raanan Gissin, a senior Sharon aide, said statements at the end of the talks, expected to last about five hours, were likely to focus on an endorsement of Bush's vision of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and initial steps in the "road map".

Diana Buttu, a Palestinian spokeswoman, said the time had come for action.

"We believe it is now time to go beyond statements and look to start taking conclusive steps on the ground," she said.

Abbas is taking centre stage in the showcase summits in place of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who has been shunned by the US and Israel over his alleged support of violence during the uprising.

Arafat, who has denied the allegations, said he hoped the Aqaba summit would lead to peace.

The road map, presented on April 30 after Abbas took office as the first Palestinian Prime Minister, calls for reciprocal steps - including a freeze on Jewish settlement expansion - leading to the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

The plan and Bush's first presidential visit to the Middle East underscore his new strategy of stronger personal involvement in peacemaking, 32 months into a Palestinian uprising for independence.

In blunt language, Bush said at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit with five Arab leaders: "Israel must deal with the settlements."

The international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza as illegal. Israel disputes this.

Responding to US pressure for conciliatory moves, Israel has freed almost 100 prisoners.

Abbas said last week that he expected militant Palestinian groups to agree to a ceasefire in their battle against Israeli occupation within 20 days.

- REUTERS