Powell describes his talks with Arafat as constructive

The US secretary of state Collin Powell described his talks with the chairman of the Palestinian authority Yasser Arafat which lasted more than three hours at his besieged headquarters in Ramullah as "useful and constructive."

Powell added to journalists while leaving Arafat's general headquarters " I have exchanged with President Arafat and his aides views in a useful and constructive way." He added:" we have proposed several ideas and discussed steps that will avail progress."

Powell gave no further information and confined to saying that members of his delegation will be meeting today ( Monday) with Palestinian officials. Arafat did not go out of the building after meeting with Powell, who was accompanied by the chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Oreikat.

Powell met again with the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon after his meeting with Arafat.

Meantime, the advisor for the US President for national security affairs Gonzaliza Rice said that humanitarian organizations "should be able to enter" Jenin camp.