(Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday protested Arafat's decision to appoint a new national security adviser, saying it undercut reformist Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and a U.S.-backed peace plan. "By blocking the consolidation of the Palestinian security services under Prime Minister Abbas, Yasser Arafat undercuts the fight against terrorism and further undermines the hopes of the Palestinian people for peace and for a Palestinian state that can live side by side with Israel in peace and security," said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan. Buchan said the U.S. believed that "the security services need to be consolidated" under Abbas and a key ally, Security Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan. "That is the way forward," she said.
2003-08-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive