MIDDLE EAST

SHARON, ABBAS SET DATE FOR ONE-ON-ONE MEETING

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Sharon and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will hold a long-delayed, one-on-one meeting on June 21, the two sides announced yesterday. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have not met since a February 8 summit in Egypt, where they declared a cease-fire that has sharply reduced the level of violence. That watershed meeting, held under the auspices of President Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan, raised hopes that the Israelis and Palestinians would soon embark on negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive peace accord. Instead, both sides have signaled dissatisfaction with the pace and scope of one another’s conciliatory measures, and traded accusations of failure to live up to promises made at the February gathering. Mr. Sharon and his top lieutenants have repeatedly accused Mr. Abbas of failing to disarm Palestinian Arab militant groups such as Hamas. The Palestinian Arabs, in turn, have complained bitterly about Israel’s expansion of Jewish settlements, particularly a plan that appears aimed at linking the West Bank’s largest settlement, Maale Adumim, with Jerusalem. That proposal, in effect, would nearly divide the West Bank in two.

– Los Angeles Times

EAST ASIA

SOUTH KOREA APPLAUDS AMERICAN PLEDGE FOR DIPLOMACY WITH NORTH

SEOUL, South Korea – President Bush’s pledge to use diplomacy to resolve tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programs was applauded by South Korea yesterday, but the communist North kept up its complaints about Washington’s stance.

Citing American pressure about its nuclear program, North Korea asked the South to reduce to 30 from 70 the number of officials it sends to Pyongyang this month for a celebration of the historic 2000 summit between the two Koreas, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said.

North Korea requested the smaller delegation in a telephone message, citing “new hindrances” by America “recently pressuring and criticizing the North Korean regime with regard to the nuclear issue,” the South’s Unification Ministry said. The South is an American ally. In Washington, Mr. Bush said, “For those who say that we ought to be using our military to solve the problem, I would say that while all options are on the table, we’ve got a ways to go to solve this diplomatically,” Mr. Bush said Tuesday.

– Associated Press

CENTRAL ASIA

U.S. RELEASES 53 AFGHANS FROM JAIL, SAY THEY POSE NO THREAT

KABUL, Afghanistan – The American military released 53 Afghans from its jails in Afghanistan yesterday after deciding that they posed no threat, American officials said. The men were brought from the main American base at Bagram and another American base in the southern city of Kandahar and released in the capital. The American military spokesman in Afghanistan, Colonel James Yonts, said the 53 were “low-level combatants” who committed hostile acts against civilians, Afghan forces, and American-led coalition forces. The release comes amid allegations that American military personnel at Bagram and at other detention facilities have abused prisoners. The military has said it would not tolerate any maltreatment. Four who were released said they were not abused while in detention.

– Associated Press

PERSIAN GULF

IRANIAN LAWMAKERS ASK KHATAMI TO RESUME NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian lawmakers sent a letter to President Khatami yesterday asking him to implement a law allowing the nation to resume nuclear activities “as soon as possible,” state-run radio reported. The letter, from 175 of the 290 legislators in Iran’s parliament, was sent less than a week after the hard-line Guardian Council approved the law, which encourages the government to pursue nuclear goals despite international pressure. The move was seen as trying to strengthen Tehran’s hand in nuclear talks with European nations.

– Associated Press