After visit to Morocco, Arafat to meet pope

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who is attending this Monday the meeting of the governing board of Bayt Mal Al Quds, will meet on Tuesday in the Holy See the Pope, a Palestinian official source said.

According to Arafat's advisor, Nabil Abu Rudeina, the Palestinian president will talk with the pope on the deadlock in the peace process and the crisis in negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Palestinian president will also meet in Rome Italian president Carlo Azeglio Clampi and Italian premier, Massimo D'Alema.

The pope will undertake next March 20-26 a tour in Jordan, Israel and Palestine.