JERUSALEM, May 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Monday the expected pullout from the Gaza Strip will be delayed until mid-August to avoid clashing with a traditional Jewish period of mourning, Israel Radio reported.

   The withdrawal will begin "immediately after the (Jewish mourning day) of Tisha B'Av. I don't want to commit myself to an exact date," Sharon said.

   Israel plans to pull out troops and settlers from all 21settlements in the coastal Gaza Strip and four out of 120 in the West Bank.

   The process was originally set to start in late July.   Sharon said earlier that he was leaning to a delay given religious sensibilities during the Jewish mourning period that marks the destruction in biblical times of two Jerusalem temples. The mourning period ends on Aug. 14.  Enditem