Sharon vows to implement unilateral steps in months

"We wish to speedily advance implementation of the roadmap towards a quiet and genuine peace," Sharon said in a keynote speech here.

"We hope that the Palestinian Authority will carry out its part. However if in a few months the Palestinians still continue to disregard their part in implementing the roadmap then Israel will initiate the unilateral security step of disengagement from the Palestinians.

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"The 'disengagement plan' will be realised only in the event that the Palestinians continue to drag their feet and postpone implementation of the roadmap."

His speech brought immediate condemnation from the Palestini-ans with premier Ahmed Qorei saying that he was disappointed by the "threats" while the top aide to veteran leader Yasser Arafat said it amounted to a rejection of the roadmap.

The White House warned that the United States would oppose any "unilateral" moves by Israel that falls outside the terms of the roadmap.

And Sharon also came under fire from Israeli settlers after warning that settlements would be evacuated under the terms of a program of unilateral disengagement.

"The relocation of settlements will be made first and foremost in order to draw the most efficient security line possible, thereby creating this (unilateral) disengagement between Israel and the Palesti-nians," Sharon said.

Sharon did not name which settlements would go but Bensi Lieberman, president of the Settlers' Council, vowed to battle any such plan.

"If we come to the conclusion that the prime minister will take unilateral measures which will involve the transfer of Jews and dismantling of communities we will do everything in our power to prevent these measures becoming reality," Lieberman told public television.

Sharon also vowed that Israel would "greatly accelerate" construction of its West Bank separation barrier which has come under fierce international criticism for cutting deep into Palestinian land.

"The rapid completion of the security fence will enable the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) to remove roadblocks and ease the daily lives of the Palestinian population not involved in terror," he said.

Sharon's talk of unilateral measures prompted an angry response from the Palestinian leadership which opposes non-negotiated decisions that might affect their future state and fear any redeployment would be considered definitive by Israel, whether or not it matches internationally recognised borders.

Qorei told AFP that he was prepared for talks with Sharon and insisted that a bilateral agreement remained possible.

AP adds: The United States warned Israel against imposing a solution if peace efforts remain stalled, and the Palestinians called Ariel Sharon's ultimatum unacceptable.

Jewish West Bank settlers, also reacting swiftly to the plan Sharon unveiled Thursday, said the prime minister's idea of moving some settlements was an illusion.

Sharon warned in a speech in this Tel Aviv suburb that the Palestinians had only a few months to make peace or Israel would take unilateral steps to separate itself from Palestinian areas.

Sharon said Israel remained committed to a US-backed road map peace plan. But he demanded Palestinians begin dismantling militant groups, as called for by the plan, or face an Israeli-imposed security border. The road map envisions a Palestinian state by 2005.