Visit by British minister to Arafat deepens rift with US

The rift between Britain and the United States over the Middle East deepened last night when a British Foreign Office minister held talks with Yasser Arafat at his West Bank headquarters.

The surprise visit by Mike O'Brien came only days after President George Bush demanded that Mr Arafat step down as President of the Palestinian Authority, and Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, shelved plans to visit the region and suggested Washington was no longer talking to Mr Arafat.

Mr O'Brien, who took over as junior minister with responsibility for the Middle East last month, also met Shimon Peres, the Israeli Foreign Minister, on what Downing Street said was a "familiarisation visit". He did not meet Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister.

The meeting with Mr Arafat threatened to reopen the row between London and Washington over Mr Bush's call for his removal as part of a Middle East peace settlement. Relations have also been strained by America's opposition to the International Criminal Court established on Monday.