Barak did not attend Sharm esh Sheikh meeting

Israel's prime minister Ehud Barak has not attended Sharm esh Sheikh talks where Egypt had hosted the US secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat. A matter which was explained by circles at Sharm esh - Sheikh circles as reflecting Israel's intention to continue the brutal actions against the Palestinians.

The sources added that Barak also is maneuvering and trying to escape the international pressure.

News reports indicated that President Mubarak who met with Arafat and Albright warned against the continued Israeli practices against the Arabs and its grave consequences on the ME peace process.

Arafat called for the establishment of an international committee for fact finding and to know about the massacres committed by the Israeli forces.

Meantime, the Egyptian foreign minister Amr Moussa held Israel responsible for what is taking place, he said " Killing of children is a criminal and brutal act whose makers should be punished."

Albright said " Sharon's visit to al-Aqsa mosque was a great mistake," adding a move should be made towards getting out this bottleneck and to move towards the peace process.

For his part Ariel Sharon renewed his backing to Barak in his efforts to oppress the Palestinian uprising. He added " Barak continuously and directly inform me on latest development and listen to me attentively."

Sharon also refused the American criticism for his visit. He said: " I have discussed this visit before I made it with the israeli officials and it is " my right" to move in any area in Jerusalem.

Meantime, the chairman of the security team at the divan of the Israeli prime minister Dani Yatoum addressed criticism to the French President Jacques Chirac because he had encouraged the Palestinian government not to approve a US- Israeli agreement that demands the Palestinians to halt the uprising.