Arafat to visit Sweden next week

It was announced in Stockholm on Friday that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will visit Sweden next week.

AFP quoted the Swedish Foreign Ministry as saying that the meeting expected to be held in Gaza on Friday between Arafat and the Swedish Deputy Foreign Minister Pierre Skouri was canceled at the last minute, but the AFP did not state the reason behind this.

Arafat last week held short visits to Finland and Norway in the course of his tour of several Arab and European states with the objective of seeking support for his intention to announce the Palestinian state on May 4.