Analysis: Powell runs into trouble

Several hours of talks in Jerusalem failed to produce agreement between the American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, on how long Israel's military operations in Palestinian towns should last.

The most Mr Sharon would say was that he hoped Israel would soon conclude what he called its war on the infrastructure of terror.

Powell defended Israel's right to respond to attacks

Mr Powell said he would go on trying to reach agreement.

Shortly after their news conference, another suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem underlined the intractable nature of the conflict - even if it tended to undermine the Israeli Government's argument that its offensive was curbing Palestinian violence.

It was striking that Mr Powell did not repeat President Bush's call for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces - a demand also made by the United Nations Security Council.