Barak repeated his promise that Israel would honour the Wye accord, a land-for-security agreement frozen by the previous hard-line government.Peace talks have been deadlocked over Israel's reluctance to implement the agreement in totality, under which it must withdraw from 13.1 per cent of the West Bank.

``Within three to four weeks we will start marking the time to begin carrying out the Wye accord as it was agreed to,'' Barak told Israeli army radio in an interview.

It was unclear whether initial steps in implementing the deal would include an immediate troop withdrawal by Israel.

Barak's predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew from two per cent in the first stage, but then suspended the accord amid allegations that the Palestinians were not meeting their security obligations.

The new Prime Minister,who took office in July, added that he expected further dialogue with the Palestinians on whether they would accept Israel's request to delay the third and final troop withdrawal called for in the deal until an outline for a permanent peace accord is reached.

-- Associated Press