Israel relaxes Arafat siege

Tanks and jeeps have been leaving the compound

Israel has eased the siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Ramallah headquarters.

Tanks began to move away from the compound early on Sunday afternoon local time.

The BBC's Barbara Plett, who is inside the compound, says young activists have been rushing into the offices and some of those who have been holed up inside have started emerging.

The siege around Arafat will be lifted, but the wanted suspects will continue to be wanted suspects

Israeli Tourism Minister Yitzhak Levy

She says troops are stationed very close by as Israel still hopes to detain several wanted men it says are taking refuge in Mr Arafat's offices.

Israeli troops besieged the compound after two suicide bombs 10 days ago and have systematically destroyed many of the buildings, leaving just three buildings still standing.

"The siege around Arafat will be lifted, but the wanted suspects will continue to be wanted suspects," said Israeli Tourism Minister Yitzhak Levy.

Click here to see a map of the compound

"I don't have any doubt that when a suspect tries to leave, he will be caught by Israeli troops," he said.

Mr Arafat has not yet come out of his office, but has spoken to journalists, reading out the text of a UN Security Council resolution passed last week calling for the lifting of the siege.

He said the continued presence of the troops nearby meant the terms of the resolution had not been met and that Israel was playing games.

However, some Palestinian officials described the easing of the siege as a victory and the consequence of Mr Arafat's refusal to bow to pressure and leave his offices.

Troops have been loading up equipment

Jeeps, armoured vehicles and lorries have been moving out of the compound.

Soldiers have also been removing flags, barbed wire, sandbags and loud speakers, which had been installed during the siege.

The decision to ease the siege is reported to have been taken at a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and senior cabinet members on Sunday morning.

People not on Israel's list of about 50 suspects will be allowed to leave the area, but any of the wanted men who came out will be arrested.

There are suggestions that a deal like the one to end the siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in May could be reached.

That would mean the men would be expelled from the West Bank - probably to the Gaza Strip.

US pressure

Correspondents say the decision to relax the siege is the result of pressure from the United States.

US President George W Bush wrote to Mr Sharon at the weekend demanding an end to the siege.

Last week, the US abstained from the UN Security Council resolution calling for a withdrawal, and the White House has described the siege as "unhelpful".

However, an unnamed official from the US embassy in Tel Aviv has said that unless the lifting of the siege is complete, the United States will not change its stance and will continue to demand its end.

Some reports also say Foreign Minister Shimon Peres had made a veiled threat to resign if the siege was not lifted.

Israel's left-wing opposition has welcomed the decision to move away from the compound.

Opposition leader Yossi Sarid said it amounted to a capitulation by "a foolish government that can't see two steps ahead."

---

Click here to return