Arafat heads for Washington

The chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat left Gaza on Tuesday at dawn for Washington to meet with US President Bill Clinton.

An official at the Palestinian Authority said that Arafat wants to get explanations and clarifications for the proposals made by President Clinton over the Israeli- palestinian negotiations.

He added that the meeting which was due on Tuesday evening between Clinton and Arafat will be attended on the Palestinian side by the Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Oreikat and the Palestinian official for culture and information Yasser Abd Rabbu.

US President Bill Clinton on Monday evening made a telephone call with the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak prior to the meeting due between Clinton and Arafat.