Sharon says more settlements could go

ISRAEL could eventually relinquish more West Bank settlements, beyond the four to be dismantled in coming weeks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suggested in an interview published yesterday.

But he reiterated that Israel would keep major West Bank settlement blocs in any peace deal.

The Israeli Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said it wants to complete the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank by September 4, rather than in mid-September, the original target date. The forcible removal of settlers from their homes is to begin Wednesday.