Bush unmoved by Jordanian initiative

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues

US President George W Bush has apparently brushed aside a Jordanian attempt to encourage Washington to take a more active role in the Middle East peace process.

At a meeting with King Abdullah, the president reiterated his position that a return to Arab-Israeli peace talks depended on a cessation of violence, a policy hardly different from that of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"Our country is very interested in working with all parties" in trying to get the opposing sides to "lay down their arms", Mr Bush said during a photo session with the king in the Oval Office.

But he added: "First and foremost the violence must stop."

King Abdullah: Wants Washington to be more hands-on

BBC Amman correspondent Barbara Plett says King Abdullah shares Egypt's belief that only Washington can persuade Israel can make the kinds of concessions Arab leaders think are needed for a settlement with the Palestinians.

He has spent the last week lobbying political circles in the US for a return of Washington's hands-on approach to Middle East peace as seen during the administration of former President Bill Clinton.

A senior US official said the two leaders discussed ways to bring Israeli and Palestinian security officials together for a second meeting as a way to reduce tensions.

Shortly before his arrival in Washington, King Abdullah spoke of an "essential" US role and how he would discuss "how we can work together... to restore calm and get the peace process back on track".

After his meeting with Mr Bush, he said only: "I believe we're both committed to finding peace and stability in our part of the world."

Economic help

Mr Bush said his administration would get a free-trade agreement for Jordan "one way or the other out of our Congress", a measure that correspondents say is vital to Jordan's hard-pressed economy.

Key Republicans in Congress have said the agreement should be changed to make it more acceptable to US business groups.

The Jordanian monarch is the second Arab leader to meet Mr Bush, the first being President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

There has been anger in some Arab capitals that Mr Bush has so far avoided inviting Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Washington.