Ramallah (West Bank), Nov 29: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has launched a series of appeals to western leaders to relaunch the stalled Middle East peace process, one of his aides said. In the written messages, sent to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac among others, Arafat appeals for western leaders "to act to relaunch the peace process" that has been stalled for three years, his adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina told late yesterday.
Arafat also sent messages to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, as well as the leaders of Spain, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, and South Africa.
In the messages Arafat also told the leaders about "developments in the Palestinian territories, continuing Israeli aggression and the refusal of the Israeli government to implement the roadmap" for peace backed by the international community.
The appeals follow continued pressure by the United States to shun Arafat to encourage the rise of a new Palestinian leader.
They come ahead of the planned signing on Monday in Geneva of an alternative Middle-East peace plan drafted by opposition Israeli politicians and prominent Palestinians. Bureau Report