White House fury over Sharon jibe

Washington has condemned as "unacceptable" Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's accusation that the US is appeasing Arab states in order to gain support in its war on terrorism.

Mr Sharon had compared the treatment of Israel with events leading up to World War II, when Britain and France helped Nazi Germany dismember Czechoslovakia.

"Those comments made by the prime minister are unacceptable in the president's opinion," said President Bush's spokesman, Ari Fleischer.

He added that Mr Sharon had been informed of the US response to his comments through the US embassy in Israel.