U.S. HELPS SHARON IN FORMING ISLAMIC TIES

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has quietly encouraged Arab andIslamic allies to meet Israeli representatives or visit the Jewish state inan effort to bolster the political stature of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Officials said the Bush administration has contacted several Arab andIslamic allies over the last month in an effort to bolster Sharon amid thedecline in his political support in Israel. The sources said Secretary ofState Condoleezza Rice and her aides contacted such countries as Egypt,Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey to undertake gestures designedto increase Sharon's political stature.