Arafat to meet Fatah leaders

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was to meet leaders of his Fatah movement today after promising Palestinians new elections.

Elections are among the reforms of the Palestinian Authority that many see as vital to peace with Israel, but a senior official said the voting question was not on the agenda of today's meeting.

Minister Mr Yasser Abed Rabbo told reporters: "It has nothing to do with elections. It has to do with internal issues".

Mr Arafat is under growing pressure at home and abroad to allow elections overdue since the last vote in 1996.