Bush plans key Middle East summit

US President George W Bush plans to engage in a three-way summit in Jordan next week with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, the White House announced yesterday.

Despite recent setbacks to the peace process, Mr Bush hopes to "focus on moving forward", White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in announcing the planned meeting.

Mr McClellan said Mr Bush would also go separately to Egypt next week to meet with Arab leaders, and to Qatar, headquarters of the US Central Command, to meet with US troops.