US denies news that Albright refuses to meet with Sharon

The spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday denied recent reports by Israeli papers that the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refuses to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon because Israel did not implement the Wye Plantation agreement, which provides for redeployment in the West Bank.

Israeli Radio indicated on Tuesday that Sharon will visit the US today, during which he will meet with US officials including Albright and the US-Middle East peace process coordinator, Dennis Ross.