Arafat joins truce as road map back on track

THE mainstream Palestinian Fatah movement, headed by Yasser Arafat, last night announced it was suspending attacks against Israel following the declaration of a truce by the militant Hamas and Islamic

Jihad groups. Fatah said it would halt all military operations in accordance with an Egyptian initiative. The length of the truce was not stated, but previous reports about the Egyptian plan said it called for a one-year truce.

Fatah officials said the group’s central council approved the ceasefire, several hours after Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared a three- month halt to attacks against Israelis, surprising Fatah leaders.