Germany offers to host Mideast ceasefire talks

Germany today offered to host Mideast ceasefire talks in Berlin, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat welcomed the idea.

Arafat met German foreign minister Joschka Fischer in the West Bank town of Ramallah and said the proposal was for him to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres at Fischer’s office.

Fischer said: "It is a proposal from Mr Arafat to have it take place in my office in Berlin. It is a good proposal. Any time, we are ready, day and night, 24 hours, seven days a week."