Israel 'should ease military clampdown'

A SENIOR US official, launching talks on a peace "road map", yesterday said Israel should ease a harsh military clampdown on Palestinians to encourage them to reject violence.

Assistant Secretary of State William Burns was preparing the ground for the most concerted international peace drive in the region since the US-brokered Camp David talks collapsed in mid-2000. Palestinians rose up against Israel soon afterwards.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell is due in the region later this week for the first time in 13 months and Burns came ahead of him to glean remarks from each side on the long-delayed road map unveiled last week.