Palestinian spokesmen had been upset at reports that Barak was considering a delay of as long as 15 months. Barak replied that there was ``no reason to delay implementation''.

The agreement, negotiated by his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu at Wye plantation in Maryland last October, provides for Israeli troops to withdraw from extensive parts of the West Bank but has only been partially implemented.

Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat as well as Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian officials have pressed for completion, with Arafat saying last evening he would not accept a 15-month delay.

Israeli radio stations said today Barak had replied that he had mentioned 15 months in a different context, meaning this was the time he expected it to take to complete negotiations with Syria and thePalestinians.

Barak has been in the United States and was expected Wednesday in London.