Bush would accept slight delay in ports deal-Rove

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) President George W Bush would accept a slight delay in permitting Dubai Ports World to acquire a British company that operates six key US ports, senior White House adviser Karl Rove told Fox News.

When asked if Bush would accept a slight delay in implementing the takeover of P&O, Rove said: ''Yes, look, there are some hurdles, regulatory hurdles, that this still needs to go through on the British side as well that are going to be concluded next week.

''There's no requirement that it close, you know, immediately after that,'' he said in an interview with FOX News Talks' ''The Tony Snow Show''.

Reuters PDS VP0315