AGADIR (Morocco), April 8: Morocco’s King Mohammed gave US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s Middle East peace mission a chilly reception on Monday by asking the top diplomat why he had not begun his tour in Israel.

At the end of his meeting with the king, Powell made one of the toughest US calls on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to withdraw his forces from Palestinian cities, saying: “The strategic problems that are created by the continuing operation are rather significant and severe when you see what’s happening throughout the rest of the Middle East.

“We hope that Prime Minister Sharon and his colleagues are taking all of this into account as the President (George Bush) asked them to when the operations began 10 or 11 days ago.”

Bush repeated the call on Monday.

“I meant what I said to the prime minister of Israel. I expect there to be withdrawal without delay,” he said.

His envoy Anthony Zinni also met Sharon to deliver what the White House said was Bush’s call for an end to the offensive.

Powell flew into Morocco on Monday to begin his crucial mission as fighting between Palestinians and Israeli forces raged on for the 11th day of an Israeli military incursion into Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank.

In opening remarks overheard by reporters, the king echoed the rising tide of anger in the streets of Arab countries over the Israeli offensive and the schedule of Powell’s mission.

“Don’t you think that it would be more important to go to Jerusalem first?” the king asked.

Sharon is widely expected to withdraw troops from the West Bank when Powell finally reaches Israel later this week.—Reuters