US urges Sharon to halt expansion

US PRESIDENT George W Bush urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday to abandon plans to expand a key Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

Sharon said he agreed with Bush on the general outlines of the internationally-negotiated "road map" peace plan, but added that some settlements in the West Bank were considered part of Israel and would remain under his government's control.

Standing at Bush's side, Sharon also said that Israel would not move forward on the road map until the Palestinians took more steps to disarm militant groups.