Secretary of State Colin Powell says Israeli troops should be withdrawn from the West Bank now. 

After meeting in Morocco Monday with King Mohammed, Mr. Powell warned the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Palestinians towns and cities is causing severe strategic problems. 

Mr. Powell spoke in the Moroccan coastal town of Agadir. Morocco is the first stop on an urgent U.S. mission aimed at halting spiraling Israeli-Palestinian violence. 

King Mohammed told Mr. Powell it would have been more effective if the secretary had begun his trip by going directly to Jerusalem. Mr. Powell said he wanted to consult with European and Arab leaders before visiting Israel Friday. 

The secretary of state meets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah today in Casablanca. He is set to visit Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo Tuesday, before meetings with European ministers in Madrid Wednesday. 

A Moroccan government statement says King Mohammed remains adamantly opposed to the Israeli siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is confined to his headquarters in Ramallah. The statement also urges the United States to spare no effort to get an immediate Israeli withdrawal and to enable Mr. Arafat to regain his liberty. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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