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Washington steps up diplomacy over Middle East issue

US President George W. Bush will press Arab leaders to do more to show open support for new Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, US officials said as the president prepared to open an intense round of personal diplomacy in the region.

Bush hoped to win additional backing for a US-backed peace plan that would lead to creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

But officials cautioned that concessions from both the Arab world and Israel were needed to advance the so-called "road map" to peace, and that the process still had a long way to go.

Bush was cutting short his attendance at a summit of major industrial nations on yesterday to head for the Middle East.

In Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Bush planned meetings with Arab leaders today. Aides said he would press them to both demonstrate support for the new Palestinian leader and to take steps making it easier for him to rein in terrorism and impose security in Palestinian-controled areas.

Tomorrow, Bush plans to participate in a three-way summit in Aqaba, Jordan, with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"The president is going to look to the Arab leaders to continue to play a constructive role in achieving peace," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said on Sunday.

A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bush would use his meetings to seek commitments from Middle East leaders on how to carry out the road map.

Asked if the US would apply sanctions for countries that fail to comply, the official said, "The US is going to be in a position to assess where progress is being made and where it isn't. And to assess where the roadblocks to progress are and where they are not."

Secretary of State Colin Powell said earlier that the US hoped to win commitments from the Arab leaders "that they will provide assistance [to Abbas] to strengthen his position as prime minister."

Bush also will underscore to Sharon at their meeting tomorrow that Israel has responsibilities to make the peace process work. Part of the plan calls for Israel to pull back from many of its settlements in Palestinian-controlled areas.
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