Arafat set to be freed from his West Bank ‘prison’

Yasser Arafat could be freed from his West Bank confinement by nightfall after a deal was agreed today for the transfer of six wanted Palestinians to British and US custody in Jericho.

Mohammed Rashid, an Arafat adviser involved in the negotiations, said the six prisoners were expected to be moved from Arafat’s headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah to Jericho within several hours.