Powell Turns Down Suggestion of Forcing Arafat Into Exile

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Powell Turns Down Suggestion of Forcing Arafat Into Exile

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U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday turned down a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to send Yasser Arafat into exile, saying the Palestinian leader "still has a role to play."

"Chairman Arafat still has a role to play," Powell told ABC television's "Good Morning America" program. "As a leader he can speak out against the kind of terrorist activity we have seen, do a better job in calming the passions of his people."

"Sending him into exile will just give him another place from which to conduct the same kinds of activities," Powell said, "We need to work with him where he is, and where he is in Ramallah."

He said he was pleased that the Israelis had committed that they would not do anything to harm or to kill Arafat.

Sharon said earlier in the day he would let Arafat leave his besieged headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah only on condition that he would not return to the Palestinian territories.

Israel Radio on Tuesday also quoted political sources as saying that the Israeli government is considering lifting the travel ban on Arafat provided that he does not come back.

Palestinians said Arafat, who has sworn to "die a martyr" rather than give in to Israel, would in no way agree to leave the territories.

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