Jerusalem, May 27: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas delayed talks today on the Middle East roadmap ahead of an expected peace summit with US President George Bush next week. The urgent need to breathe life into the peace process was underscored as violence erupted in the northern West Bank where a Palestinian teenager was shot dead.

Sharon and Abbas had planned to meet tomorrow but the talks were delayed for "technical reasons" and "will take place in the next 48 hours," the Palestinian side said.

Israeli government sources said the deferment was due to scheduling problems on the Palestinian side linked to Spanish foreign minister Ana Palacio's visit to the region.

The meeting's venue and time still have to be announced but Israeli public radio said it would take place at Sharon's home in central Jerusalem and not his offices, the site of their first gathering on May 17 which was the highest level talks between the sides since the Intifada erupted 32 months ago.

Israel's first-ever recognition of Palestinian statehood aspirations Sunday, with its acceptance of the so-called roadmap, elevated the chance of Bush hosting a June peace summit between Sharon and Abbas.

The document, drawn up by the United States, United Nations, Russia and the European Union, proposes the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

Bureau Report