Clinton to meet with Arafat this month

US officials said on Thursday night that US President Bill Clinton intends to meet with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat during the visit Arafat is to hold to New York later this month to attend the meetings of the UN General Assembly.

The officials, who refused to be identified, said that President Clinton will try during this meeting to assert the determination of the US that negotiations between the Palestinian government and Israel will reach a comprehensive settlement.

The US officials said the meeting will be held either in New York when President Clinton attends with Arafat the meetings of the UN General Assembly around September 20 or in Washington during the same week.