The interim Middle East peace agreement has hit what the White House describes as a snag.

The difficulty arose shortly after it was announced that the agreement itself had been tied up and was waiting to be signed.

Israel wants the United States to release an American, Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence for spying for Israel.

A government spokesman Aviv Bushinskyin Jerusalem said President Clinton was arguing that he was unable to do so for technical reasons.

But correspondents say the US intelligence services are strongly opposed to Pollard's release.

The Palestinians have meanwhile told Israel they are not willing to wait beyond today to sign the agreement.