President Arafat satisfied over visit to Morocco

President Yasser Arafat termed as "positive and constructive" the outcome of the visit he paid to Morocco on Tuesday and during which he was received by King Hassan II.

President Arafat told the press before leaving Marrakesh that he informed King Hassan II on the situation in Palestine as the date to proclaim an independent Palestinian state draws near (May 4).

The deadline will mark the end of the transition period, provided for in the Oslo accord and which gives "the Palestinian people the right to proclaim their state with Al-Quds Asharif (Jerusalem) as capital," he added.

"We listened to the precious pieces of advice of His Majesty and we will convey them to the Palestinian leadership that will meet on April 28," Arafat said.

President Arafat expressed thanks to King Hassan II, in his capacity as chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, for his positions in favor of the just cause of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian president visited Morocco as part of a world tour to rally support for the proclamation of an independent Palestinian state.