Middle East fence on agenda

United States President George W. Bush is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, just four days after holding similar talks with Palestinians, in his latest bid to push forward a Middle East peace plan.

Bush set out at least one item on the agenda after his meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas, saying a wall being built by Israel in the West Bank was "a problem".

Bush's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice has already warned Sharon of the President's concern over the security fence, during a tour through the region in late June.

Israel began building its 350km security fence, which towers several metres high at some points, in June last year in a bid to keep Palestinians from entering the Jewish state to carry out attacks and suicide bombings.

Israel will release 540 Palestinians, including 210 Islamists, a senior Israeli official said as Sharon was heading for Washington.