Mideast 'road map' for peace' due this week

A "road map" for peace will be unveiled as early as this week once Palestinian legislators endorse new reform-minded Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, a United States official said yesterday.

The Palestinian Legislative Council is expected to approve Abbas' appointment at a special session in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday.

Under the plan, Palestinians would get statehood by 2005 in exchange for reining in militants. Israel would get security.

A senior Palestinian cabinet member, Nabil Shaath, said he expected the road map to be issued on Thursday.