Top leaders press Israel

Powell is accused of delaying his visit to Israel

The United States has joined the United Nations, the European Union and Russia in calling on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian cities "immediately."

The four parties also urged Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to do everything possible to halt attacks against Israeli civilians.

We call for an immediate meaningful ceasefire and immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, specifically including Chairman Arafat's headquarters

joint statement

The joint statement came after talks in Madrid between US Secretary of State Colin Powell, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique for the EU and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

"We call on Israel to halt immediately its military operations," said the statement, which was read out by Mr Annan at a joint news conference.

There should, it said, be an immediate "meaningful" ceasefire and an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah where Yasser Arafat has his headquarters, it said.

"We call on Chairman Arafat as the recognised elected leader of the Palestinian people to undertake immediately the maximum possible effort to stop terror attacks against innocent Israelis," the statement continued.

Kofi Annan said he was "frankly appalled" at the humanitarian situation in the West Bank following Israel's incursions.

Mr Powell - asked about Washington's stance on imposing sanctions on Israel - said the issue had not been discussed in the talks.

Questioned by reporters, Mr Powell said the US was still prepared to commit peace monitors to the region.

Arab anger

The US secretary of state came to Madrid after tough meetings with Arab leaders, who challenged his decision not to go straight to Israel after arriving in the region this week.

Powell said the "cauldron" of Arab anger was spilling over

Having met Morocco's King Mohammed, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, Mr Powell said anger among Arab nations at Israel's military action was clear.

"The cauldron is really spilling over now," he said as he flew to Madrid.

Mr Powell admitted that Arab leaders had been frank in telling him of their feelings:

"I wasn't stunned by anything I heard but I heard it in spades from everybody."

He confirmed that he wanted to meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat - a decision condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Mr Powell is due to visit Jordan before finally arriving in Israel.