Arafat's outrage at Church of Nativity fire

Yasser Arafat has branded the Israelis “Nazis and racists” over their part in the fire at the Church of the Nativity.

It comes as Israeli tanks lifted their siege of his Ramallah headquarters, letting soldiers who have been holed up with him for a month leave the compound.

Arafat who has been confined to the headquarters since December, said events at the Church were 'unforgivable'.

"It's an ugly crime," said Arafat, adding: "I call on the international community to take immediate measures in the face of this horrendous crime. Those terrorists, Nazis and racists, how can we tolerate them after committing this crime?"