Arafat declares emergency after Gaza kidnappings

A security panel headed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip early today after a wave of kidnappings that included a Palestinian police chief and four French citizens.

Although the hostages were later freed, the crisis raised questions about the future of prime minister Ahmed Qureia’s government, which was meeting today in a session that could determine its future, a Palestinian official said.