Blair presses for 'road map' to be published

Britain expressed frustration yesterday at the continuing delay in publishing the internationally agreed "road-map" for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Drawn up by the Quartet - the UN, the US, the EU and Russia - the map proposes steps to be taken by the Israelis and Palestinians, including a freeze on building Jewish settlements on the West Bank and reform of the Palestinian authorities.

Although it had agreed on a date of December 20, Israel, which is sceptical, has been seeking to postpone publication. First it wanted to wait for its general election at the end of January, then it said wait until a new government is formed.

Now it says it wants to make changes in it before it is published.

Tony Blair desperately needs it published to help neutralise those in his cabinet and party, and in the wider public, who complain that instead of concentrating on Iraq the US and Britain should make the resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict their priority.

Mr Bush has widened the differences with Mr Blair by saying that the settlement freeze should await Palestinian reforms.