Arafat talks peace with Blair

Israeli and Palestinian flags

The prime minister met the Palestinian leader in London today to discuss the Middle East conflict. Both are critically aware of its impact on the current international situation.

Tony Blair's ambitions for the campaign against terror are more or less boundless - as we heard when he spoke to the Labour Party Conference. High on the list came the Middle East - and the chance to revive the peace process.

Since then, Mr Blair has reinforced his view that a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is central to establish a new, terror-free world order.

Can Arafat secure victory?

There is no question that President Yasser Arafat has spotted an opportunity here. He clearly believes that, in the new mood, Israel will come under increasing pressure to accommodate Palestinian demands. Today he arrived in London to pursue his case.

Following their meeting the Prime Minister said both he and Mr Arafat were agreed that now was the right time to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process.

Gideon Meir, a senior adviser to the Israeli Foreign Minister tells the programme that there is no link between the Palestinian problem and the recent terrorist attacks. And UK Foreign Office minister Peter Hain rejects suggestions that the latest push for peace is a response to the attacks on New York and Washington.

Ray Manley, former security supervisor

Also on the programme Jon Manel reports on new evidence due to be revealed in the appeal of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

He talks to Ray Manley, a former security supervisor at Heathrow airport, who says security at Terminal 3 was breached before PanAm Flight 103 took off.

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To listen to these interviews and the special report click on the audio links above