Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon arrived in Washington for talks with US President George W. Bush and other US officials.
Sharon arrived in Washington armed with a 100-page intelligence file that aims to prove Arafat's Palestinian Authority both financed and oversaw the execution of a wave of suicide bombing attack against Israel. The documents allege Arafat routinely diverts European and US aid to finance these operations.
Sharon's argument was set to receive a close hearing after White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice observed that Washington "has long been concerned about the potential ties between the terrorists and the Palestinian Authority."
Palestinian leaders voiced outrage at Rice's remarks, with top political negotiator Saeb Erakat saying Washington was seeking a Palestinian surrender before the Israeli army. "This is unacceptable arrogance and interference," Erakat was quoted as saying by AFP.
Arafat, meanwhile, has asked Qatar, acting head of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to host a new meeting of the pan-Islamic group, the official Qatar QNA agency reported.
Arafat has called for both a summit-level meeting of the organization's president office -- which groups Qatar, Iran, Maldives, the Palestinians and Gambia -- and a meeting of permanent committee heads, QNA said, quoting a Qatari foreign ministry official. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
