WASHINGTON: US President George Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair committed themselves to seeking a viable Palestinian state on Friday, but only if the new leadership committed itself to democracy and the rule of law.

Though Mr Bush was lavish in his praise of Mr Blair as a "statesman and a friend" and promised to commit some political "capital of the United States" to build a Palestinian state, the leaders' statements were notably low on specifics.

The president and the prime minister made their promise to work "flat out" to revive the peace process - including the long- stalled roadmap - at a White House press conference after five hours of talks and two meals together.

They repeatedly stressed that stable states were democratic states and that international attitudes towards the toleration of dictatorships had changed since the 1980s.

Both men frequently talked of "two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security". Mr Bush said a deal could be achieved while he was president - the same four years Mr Blair hopes to stay in office.

That timescale goes beyond the deadline of the end of next year set out in the roadmap.

Mr Bush said he did not intend to introduce economic or diplomatic sanctions to force an agreement.

"I think it is impossible to think that the president of the United States or the prime minister of Great Britain can impose our vision. I think it's unrealistic to say: 'Well, Bush wants it done, or, Blair wants it done, therefore it'll happen,'" the president said.

Mr Bush did not rule out the possibility of a conference to bring the two sides together. Nor did he reject the idea of a special envoy being appointed to thrash out a settlement.

In effect, both leaders threw the ball firmly into the Palestinian court on the very day that Yasser Arafat - whose name both men avoided using - was being buried.

Mr Bush offered sympathies to the Palestinian people but said Mr Arafat's death meant "a new opportunity towards a lasting peace". "I look forward to working with a Palestinian leadershipthat is committed to fighting terror and committed to the cause of democratic reform," he said.

But the Bush administration's tentative approach to the Middle East was reflected by its choice of a relatively junior official to send to Mr Arafat's funeral =- an assistant secretary of state, William Burns.

The state department had reportedly suggested sending Colin Powell's deputy, Richard Armitage, to signal US commitment. But Elliott Abrams, the White House's hardline Middle East strategist, is said to have vetoed the idea.

On Friday Mr Blair endorsed most of Mr Bush's sentiments, and briefly congratulated his host on his re-election. The body language between the two was clearly comfortable.

The prime minister won support for another agenda point, when the president endorsed the need to rebuild ties with Europe. But there was no sign of progress on Mr Blair's plans to promote either Africa or the climate change agenda.

On Iraq, both men linked progress there to the elections in Afghanistan, which they said offered proof that cynicism about building democracy in Islamic states was misplaced. They virtually ignored the fierce fighting in Iraq.

The prime minister looked wary as the 30-minute press conference began, conscious of the need to prove to domestic audiences that he is able to influence the US in the way Europe and other critics - not least within the ranks of his own Labour Party - want.

But he gradually relaxed and when Mr Bush was asked whether he regarded his guest as a poodle, interjected, "Don't answer yes to that question".

Instead Mr Bush launched into another paean for a "strong capable man" who thought for himself and said what he meant - unlike many politicians. "I admire him a lot," said the president, and "I am a lucky president to be holding office at the same time as he holds the premiership". Mr Blair used the opportunity to reject the concept of "pay back" for loyalty. He had joined the US in the "war on terrorism", not as an ally, but because it was right.

Charles Kupchan, a former foreign policy strategist on the National Security Council and now a professor of international relations at Georgetown University, said he was deeply sceptical that Mr Blair would win more US commitment to negotiating a settlement.

"You've got to admire the guy," Prof Kupchan said. "He keeps driving into a brick wall at 90mph, and then he comes back and does it again." -Dawn/The Guardian News Service.