Palestinians refuse to meet EU without Arafat present

Palestinian politicians have refused to meet an EU peace delegation unless the visiting diplomats are given access to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Israel has refused to allow the EU group, which includes foreign policy envoy Javier Solana and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, to meet Mr Arafat, who is currently hiding from Israeli soldiers in a bunker under his demolished office in Ramallah.