Israel lifts house arrest of Yasser Arafat

Israel has lifted its virtual house arrest of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, allowing him to move freely through the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the first time in three months.

The move came after Mr Arafat’s forces arrested the last of five suspects in the assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Zeevi last October.

Palestinian sources said the decision was of little significance. It came after Israel soldiers killed five Palestinians as they stormed refugee camps in the West Bank this morning.