Sharon said in an interview with the Italian newspaper of Corriere della Sera that more prisoners would be freed, but "not the assassins, not those who have blood on their hands."

"I want to help him (Abbas) because he is a man who believes that the only way to arrive at peace is not via violence, not terrorism. It's through negotiation," Sharon said.

The prime minister also urged the European Union to give Abbas support, saying Europe should understand that "by refusing funds for Arafat and supporting Abbas, results can be obtained."

Sharon is expected to meet with Abbas next week after he returns from England to discuss the release of more Palestinian prisoners and the transfer of more cities to Palestinian control.

Both Sharon and Abbas are expected to visit Washington in late July at the invitation of US President George W. Bush to discuss the implementation of the roadmap peace plan, which envisages an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

It is feared that the roadmap would not be implemented as scheduled amid disagreements between the two sides over the issues of releasing Palestinian prisoners and Israeli withdrawal from West Bank cities.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said at a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Mohammed Dahlan on Thursday night that there would be no advancement on the roadmap-guided peace process should the Palestinians fail to fight against terrorism.

On his part, Dahlan urged Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners first, saying the release was "vital" for the ceasefire reached with Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

About 6,000 Palestinian prisoners have been jailed in Israel, while the Israeli government agreed only to release some 350 prisoners. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have warned they would resume bombing and shooting attacks unless there is a mass release.

The deadlock in the political process has built a huge pressure on Abbas, who has been criticized inside the Palestinian leadership for his "soft" negotiating tactics with Israel.

Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat on Thursday accused Abbas of "betraying the interests of the Palestinian people," saying the prime minister is like a "tyro" who does not know what he is doing.

Arafat's outburst followed a wave of similar attacks by his associates at Monday night's Fatah Central Committee meeting. The criticism has been gaining strength all the week.

Under such a pressure, Abbas on Tuesday offered his resignation from the Fatah Central Committee and threatened to resign as prime minister.

Both Arafat and the Fatah Central Committee have rejected his resignation, but the internal power struggle has continued unabated.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2003)