AMMAN, April 20: Jordan's King Abdullah returned home from the United States on Tuesday after postponing a meeting with US President George Bush scheduled for the following day amid differences on the Middle East conflict.

A court official said Wednesday's meeting would be rescheduled for early May. In the meantime Jordan would seek clarification over Mr Bush's endorsement last week of a controversial Israeli plan to unilaterally disengage from the Palestinians, which has angered Arab leaders who want a solution based on the internationally drafted roadmap.

A coalition of 14 Jordanian opposition parties, including the influential Islamic Action Front, voiced satisfaction with the king's decision while analysts and politicians said the move was aimed at protecting "strategic" ties with Washington.

"The meeting was postponed until discussions are completed with officials in the US administration to clarify the American position concerning the (Middle East) peace process," a court official told the official Petra news agency.

Jordan wants to nail down Washington's views "on the final status in the Palestinian territories, particularly in light of the latest comments made by US administration officials", he said.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher will stay behind in Washington "to pursue discussions with US administration officials". The White House said "domestic concerns" led King Abdullah to return home, but White House spokesman Scott McClellan also told reporters: "We continue to discuss the president's views with Jordanian officials." Secretary of State Colin Powell promised that the king's concerns about Washington's commitment to the roadmap would be addressed. -AFP