Bush refused to give King Abdullah guarantees to compensate the Palestinians

Officials in the US administration said that the American President George Bush refused during this week a request proposed by the King of Jordan Abdullah II, with whom he will be meeting tomorrow, over issuing a written document to offer compensations for the Palestinians expelled form their houses and lands in case a peace agreement is signed between the Palestinians and Israel.

In statements issued yesterday by the New York Times: over the possibility that the US President will issue "an address" on future compensations for the Palestinians were intensified in the few past days in the framework of preparations currently taking place for the visit of Abdullah to Washington.

The source said that the king explained that he wanted a statement from President Bush to be issued during his visit to the White House. One official in the American administration said there might be a statement that will not be issued until the end of the visit. He added: it is likely that this statement will not include promises the Jordanians want to get and the matter will be the subject of talks during the coming weeks, according to the paper.

The visit of the Jordanian king which was due in April, was postponed following promises offered by Bush to the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon during their recent meeting in Washington.