Powell Lashes out at Arafat, Renews Trust in Sharon

JERUSALEM: Palestine minister of Information, Yasser Abed Rabbo said that Collin Powell’s visit to the region was disastrous, as the latter is leaving the region while blaming President Arafat and renewing his trust in the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Secretary of State Colin Powell says Palestinian leaders "must act against terrorism". Powell was speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem Wednesday at the end of his peace mission to the region and following a second meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Secretary Powell said he made it clear to Arafat that he must decide, as the rest of the world has decided, that terrorism must end. Arafat is prohibited to leave his headquarters in Ramallah under tight Israeli army siege.

Powell also said he takes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his word that Israeli troops will withdraw from recently occupied West Bank Palestinian areas within "a week or so."