Arafat and Sharon should resign, says EU official

· EU official calls for new leadership
· Sharon says Arafat should go into exile
· Gun battles rage across West Bank towns
· Siege of Palestinian HQ ends

Sarah Left and agencies
Tuesday April 2, 2002

As gun battles raged across the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and Ramallah, the EU foreign policy head, Javier Solana, today called on the Israeli prime minister and the Palestinian leader to step aside and make way for new leadership.
Near the reputed birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem's Manger Square, Israeli tanks and helicopter gunships traded fire with a dozen Palestinian gunmen. Nearby, there was a heavy exchange of fire outside the Roman Catholic Santa Maria convent. The Israeli military said gunmen were shooting from the convent at Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli army today declared both Bethlehem and Ramallah closed military zones, refusing to let reporters or European diplomats enter the towns. Witnesses said four Palestinian civilians had been killed in fighting in Ramallah and Bethlehem.

Speaking to a Spanish radio station today, Mr Solana said the occupation of Palestinian towns would worsen the situation.

He added that the battle between the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, and the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, appeared to be bitterly personal.

"Sharon and Arafat ... have lived through this conflict for too long. I do not wish them any harm, but it would not appear bad to me if they allowed other people to lead this conflict," Mr Solana said.