Arafat meets with Barak

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat stressed on Wednesday that the meeting he held on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak did not result in any tangible results, adding that he will ask for a rapid and clear move from US President Bill Clinton to this end.

Arafat told reporters before he left Cairo airport that the meeting with Barak lasted for four hours, "And so far we have not concluded anything from it."

Arafat continued, "There are just mere promises that have not changed, nor the obligations undersigned by Barak in Sharm esh Sheikh on September 5, 1999."

Arafat added that he will call on the US president to move quickly in order to push the peace process forward and the Israeli side to implement obligations it has undersigned.

Replying to a question whether he will ask for the financial support from the US, Arafat said, "Doubtless, there is an American decision to back the Palestinian Authority. Hopefully, President Clinton will be able to boost this decision at the Congress."

Later in the day, Arafat left Egypt for Washington at the conclusion of a short visit to Egypt during which he met with President Mubarak.