Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Monday that his country plans to remove all its settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank under a plan to "disengage" unilaterally from the Palestinians.

Speaking to Army Radio, Sharon said "There are some details still to work out, but I believe our intention is to leave all of them," referring to 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Local media earlier quoted the Israeli prime minister as saying that Israel would only remove 17 of the settlements in the Gaza Strip.

Sharon added only four settlements would be removed in the West Bank and no more than that.