US asks Israel to end settlement expansion

US officials expected Israel "to be careful about anything" -- including settlements, new laws or the route of a barrier being built to separate Israelis from Palestinians -- that could affect the outcome of peace negotiations, Rice told the Los Angeles Times.

She said the United States noted its concerns in diplomatic meetings this week with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"We will continue to note that this (settlement expansion) is at odds with ... American policy. So, full stop," Rice said in the interview.

Meanwhile, Russia voiced concern over Israel's plans to construct more Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank, slamming the move as contradicting the terms of the Middle East peace roadmap, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Israel's announced plans to build more than 3,500 new homes between Maaleh Adumim (the most populous settlement in the West Bank) and Jerusalem cannot but give us concern," the ministry said in a statement made public late Friday.