US congress delegation visits Arafat, Abu Mazin government to be declared

The designated Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas ( Abu Mazin) is expected to declare his government on Sunday following the narrowing of differences on the formation of the government between the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Abu Mazin.

This was in press reports the Israeli government denied and American attempts to convince the government of Ariel Sharon to alleviate some of its restrictions on the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to encourage the new Palestinian government.

For the first time since a while, members of the American congress met with the Palestinian president in Ramullah. US congressman Darrell Issa who took part in the meeting said "it was a very good meeting with Arafat, who is totally committed to the peace process." Arafat also met with the EU-ME peace process special envoy Miguel Moratinos who stressed Europe's complete support for the peace process. He expressed his hope that the Palestinians will be able to perform the reforms and to approve the new government in order to facilitate the declaration of the Road Map as soon as possible without amendment.

Palestinian security sources said that one Palestinian youth was killed yesterday by the bullets of the Israeli soldiers who imposed curfew in Toulkarem in order to detain Palestinians.

Two Palestinians, one is a 12 year old teenager was wounded by Israeli soldiers in Jenin camp, while a spokesman for the Israeli army announced that two soldiers were hit by Palestinian bullets in Jenin.

In Gaza three Palestinians were hit by the Israeli soldiers who incurred in Deir al-Balah, according to officials at the Palestinian security forces.