PERSIAN GULF

BUSH REFUSES TO SET DEADLINE FOR IRAN TO ACCEPT DEAL

President Bush yesterday refused to set a deadline for the Iranians to accept a deal to halt their uranium enrichment program in return for economic incentives. Believing that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon, Mr. Bush said America would ask the U.N. Security Council to seek sanctions against Tehran if it rejected the offer, but he indicated that would not happen soon. “I mean, it takes awhile for things to happen in the world. …There’s a certain patience required in order to achieve a diplomatic objective,” the president said.

Mr. Bush also acknowledged yesterday that American allies are anxious to get out of Iraq but firmly denied the coalition was crumbling. He also said patience was needed to find a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program. A day after Italy announced it would begin withdrawing soldiers from Iraq by September, Mr. Bush refused to discuss the timing of any American pullout. “Our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself,” he said. Two years after the American-led invasion of Iraq, the coalition of countries that provided troops has fallen from 38 nations to 24, and America continues to shoulder the bulk of the outside responsibility and suffer most of the non-Iraqi casualties. Mr. Bush said allies want to get out as soon as Iraq can defend itself.

– Associated Press

MIDDLE EAST

ISRAEL HANDS OVER JERICHO

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli troops took down their Star of David flag, removed a roadblock, and handed the town of Jericho to Palestinian Arab control yesterday, boosting Middle East peace efforts, and sending a message to Palestinian Arabs that ending the violent uprising is starting to pay off. However, a last-minute argument over formal handover documents reflected the distrust that has built up during four years of conflict.

Symbolic steps turned practical as Israel removed one of three roadblocks around the isolated desert oasis, allowing free travel to the rest of the West Bank. Israeli soldiers stopped checking cars entering Jericho – a boost for the town’s economy and for Palestinian Arab leader Mahmoud Abbas, who needs to show he can get results as he seeks to renew the peace process with Israel. Violence has dropped since Mr. Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon declared a cease-fire at a February 8 summit in Egypt. Mr. Abbas was in Cairo yesterday trying to persuade terrorists from Islamic Jihad and Hamas to formally join the truce.

– Associated Press

HEZBOLLAH LEADER VOWS TO KEEP ARMS

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Hezbollah’s leader yesterday rejected a suggestion by President Bush that his insurgents disarm and enter the political mainstream, saying the group will never leave Lebanon defenseless. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah criticized Mr. Bush for not responding to Lebanese demands that Israeli warplanes stop flying over Lebanon, and for not calling on Israel to release its Lebanese detainees. “He does nothing to stop the over flights and its aggression or for the release of the prisoners. Instead, he provides it with protection,” Mr. Nasrallah said in a three-hour interview on Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television. “We are ready to remain until the end of time a terrorist organization in Bush’s view, but we are not ready to give up protection of our country, our people, their blood, and their honor,” Mr. Nasrallah said. America has long condemned Hezbollah, but Mr. Bush has said that the Iranian-backed insurgent group could shed its terrorist label and win American recognition if it disarms and stays out of the Israeli-Palestinian Arab dispute.

– Associated Press