MANCHESTER, N.H., Oct 5: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet US President George W. Bush in Washington on Oct 16, U.S. officials said on Saturday.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the visit would take place “in the middle of the month.” But a senior administration official said the White House talks were set for Oct 16.

The visit comes amid a flurry of activity apparently aimed at getting Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table to prevent an upsurge in violence between the two sides during a possible US attack on Iraq.

Israeli sources said Bush was likely to discuss with Sharon both the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and developments in Iraq.—Reuters