PLO leader to meet Blair today

London - The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, today will receive the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, at Downing…

London - The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, today will receive the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, at Downing Street.

Mr Arafat is making a brief visit to London on his way back to Gaza following a three-day visit to Washington for talks with President Clinton, in an effort to advance the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Mr Arafat made brief stops at the weekend in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, where he met President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. On Saturday in Rabat, where he met King Hassan, Mr Arafat said the talks last week had been a "disaster".