Powell describes talks with Arafat: ''useful and constructive''

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he had "useful and constructive" talks with Yasser Arafat on Sunday at the Palestinian leader's Israeli-besieged headquarters.
In a terse statement after three hours of talks, Powell said he and Arafat "exchanged a variety of ideas" to be followed up when the two sides meet again Monday, though it was unclear if Powell would see Arafat again.
Powell said he talked with the Palestinian leader about "steps on how we can move forward," but he offered no details and he did not indicate he made any progress on attempts to gain a cease-fire.
Arafat did not emerge from his office to speak with reporters after meeting with Powell.
"Arafat did not come out for security reasons," senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, gesturing toward an adjoining building held by the Israeli forces where soldiers peered out of windows. "You see the Israeli snipers all around. We are not going to take that risk."
Arafat "absolutely" pledged to curb violence, Palestinian aide Erekat told reporters who accompanied Powell to the compound. But he quickly added that the Palestinians were prepared to carry out that commitment only after a complete Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.
"When the Israelis complete the full withdrawal we will carry out our obligations," Erekat said.
"We just completed a useful and constructive exchange...and we exchanged a variety of ideas and discussed steps on how we can move forward," Powell told reporters.
Powell was expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later in the day to report on his talks with Arafat. Sharon has defied U.S. calls to end Israel's 16-day-old West Bank offensive.
Before the meeting in Ramallah, a senior aide to Arafat said the Palestinian leader was ready to cooperate fully with Powell's peace mission as long as the United States prevailed on Israel to withdraw its troops immediately from Palestinian-ruled areas of the West Bank.
Asked if he thought Powell could reach a cease-fire deal with Arafat, Nabil Abu Rdainah told Fox television: "The Israelis should withdraw immediately. That is the first step. If the Americans can guarantee this step, everything will happen smoothly later on." (Albawaba.com)