King Mohammed meets president of Palestine

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received on Monday president of Palestine Yasser Arafat who arrived in the Moroccan northern city of Tetuan on the same day.

This visit illustrates the Arab strategic, nationalist and militant relations binding us to H.M King Mohammed VI for whom we have deep affection and esteem, President Arafat told MAP upon arrival.

The Palestinian President, who expressed congratulations to King Mohammed VI and to the Moroccan people on the occasion of Throne Day -celebrated on July 30-- hailed the role played by Morocco under the sovereign's leadership to put an end to the occupation of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Asharif.

President Arafat, who was welcomed at the airport by minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and by the ambassador of Palestine in Rabat, Abou Marwane, is accompanied by minister of the Palestinian local government, Saeb Erikat, and presidential advisors, Hani El-Hassan and Nabil Abou Roudeina.

According to press reports, Abou Roudeina had said before Arafat and his party left Gaza for Morocco, that the Palestinian president would discuss with King Mohammed VI the Israeli escalation against the Palestinians and how the Palestinians can face up this aggression.

By mid July, Arafat had called for the convening of an Arab extraordinary summit to be devoted to the Israeli escalation against the Palestinians.