Arafat accepts US plan to lift Israeli siege

Yasser Arafat has accepted a US plan aimed at ending the month-old Israeli siege on his office.

Aide, Abu Rdeneh, said the Palestinian leader gave his agreement to the US plan in a meeting at his embattled compound with the British and US consuls.

It was not clear when the plan would be put into effect, or when Israel would lift its siege of the Ramallah compound.

The Israeli cabinet was earlier reported to have agreed to a proposal for British and US personnel to guard six Palestinians wanted by the Israelis in return for pulling back its forces surrounding Arafat's compound.

The proposal to lift the month-long siege was said to have been outlined by US President George Bush in a telephone call on Saturday to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Britain has also signalled it is ready to assist with the US plan to end the siege.