WITH Yasser Arafat in "the final phase of his life", the Palestinian leader's political heirs completed his burial arrangements yesterday and made plans for a funeral as soon as tomorrow.

With Yasser Arafat in “the final phase of his life”, the Palestinian leader’s political heirs completed his burial arrangements today and made plans for a funeral as soon as Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to fire one of his Cabinet ministers after television uncovered a scandal in which a minister is heard in a taped conversation planning to frame a fellow minister.

PRIME MINISTER Ariel Sharon and key Cabinet ministers yesterday considered proposals to move sections of a contentious West Bank security barrier closer to Israel, apparently hoping to deflect growing international criticism.