U.S. SHELVES HOPE FOR PALESTINIAN STATE IN 2005

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has shelved its hope for aPalestinian state with permanent borders in 2005. The Bush administration has acknowledged that the international roadmapplan that called for a sovereign Palestinian state with permanent borderswould not be achieved in 2005. The plan, endorsed by Washington as well asRussia, European Union and United Nations, envisioned a Palestinian statewith interim borders in mid-2004 as a first step toward full independence.