EU and US agree joint ceasefire plea to Israel

The EU and the US have agreed a joint ceasefire plea to Israel.

The initiative could be presented to Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, as early as tomorrow morning.

It comes ahead of a tour of Israel and the Arab States by US vice-President, Dick Cheney, this week.

The war on terror and the potential for peace in the Middle East will be top of the agenda.

There are reports today that Israeli bulldozers and tanks are in the Tulkarem camp on the West Bank.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, had dropped his demand for a week of calm before implementing a US ceasefire plan.

Mr Sharon has been coming under increased pressure from Washington to put the plan in place as soon as possible after the worst fighting in the Middle East since the Palestinian uprising began in September 2000.

Palestinian intelligence officials have arrested a fifth and final suspect for the assassination of the Israeli Tourism Minister.