Middle East roadmap peace plan is dead, claims Arafat

PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat declared the roadmap for peace plan dead as his rival, Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas, said he would quit if he doesn't win a vote of confidence.

Mr Abbas is insisting on a vote of confidence from parliament, raising the possibility of a showdown between the two Palestinian leaders.

"Abbas will ask for support for his policies or he leaves," Palestinian information minister Nabil Amr said in the West Bank city of Ramallah.