Bush Hopes for Peace in Mideast, Fair Vote in Zimbabwe

Bush Says Mugabe Should Respect Vote in Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON—President Bush said Tuesday Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has "failed" the country and should respect the will of the people who voted for a change in leadership.

"The will of the people needs to be respected in Zimbabwe, and it is clear that they voted for change as they should have because Mr. Mugabe has failed the country," Bush said at a news conference.

Bush: Hopeful for Mideast Peace Deal by End of Term

WASHINGTON—President George W. Bush, who will visit the Middle East next month, said on Tuesday he remains hopeful a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement can be reached by the time he leaves office in January.

"I'm still hopeful we'll get an agreement by the end of my presidency," Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference.

Bush accused the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, of undermining peace efforts.

"They are a significant problem to world peace, Middle Eastern peace, and that's the reason I'm not talking to them," he said.

Bush will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials during his Middle East visit in mid-May.