Powell meets Arafat to discuss possible ceasefire

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today sat down with Yasser Arafat in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the Middle East peace process.

Mr Powell’s visit to Arafat’s compound in Ramallah was thrown in doubt by Friday’s suicide bombing in Jerusalem, but the way was cleared for it to go ahead last night after the Palestinian president issued a statement condemning the attack.