Maher phones Powell

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher phoned US State Secretary Colin Powell late Friday. Maher highlighted the need for the Powell-Arafat meeting, slated for Saturday, to come up with the aspired outcome of an immediate Israeli withdrawal and an end of siege on Arafat.

During the phone conversation, Powell and Maher tackled outcome of the US State Secretary's meeting with Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon.

Maher posted Powell on outcome of his meeting earlier in the day with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.