Palestinians cancel security meeting with Israel

Palestinians have cancelled a planned meeting with Israeli security officials.

They are angry that Israel is continuing to restrict Yasser Arafat to the city of Ramallah.

However, Israel says it will draw tanks back from Mr Arafat's compound today.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said: "The closure around Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah will be lifted. Arafat's departure from Ramallah will require a decision that would be brought before a forum according to the judgment of the prime minister, after he consults with the defence minister."

Mr Sharon's spokesman Raanan Gissin says tanks will be pulled back later today.

A Palestinian Cabinet minister has denounced the decision and one of Mr Arafat's aides Nabil Abu Rdeneh said: "There will not be any security or political meetings with the Israeli side until Israel will return once again to behave according to the agreements."

Earlier, Israeli officials said they would ease measures as a result of last Thursday's meeting between Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan and other officials.

"The Defence Minister ordered the (army) to act with restraint in its operations to give the Palestinians a chance to fulfill their commitments ... to take steps against terrorism," said Ben-Eliezer's spokesman Yarden Vatikay.

He would not confirm reports on Israel Radio that Israel will also suspend the killings of Palestinians accused of terrorism.

The radio says the army has been ordered to stop bombings of Palestinian targets and home demolitions and remove some roadblocks in the Palestinian areas.