The Hindu : U.K. rejects U.S. call

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 27, 2002

International

International

U.K. rejects U.S. call

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON JUNE 26 . In what is seen as yet another sign of growing strains between London and Washington over a range of issues, Britain has joined its European allies in rejecting the U.S. President, George W.Bush's call for the ouster of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, as a pre-condition for the creation of an independent state.

Both Downing Street and the Foreign Office insisted that it was for the people of Palestine to decide who should be their leader and Britain would not presume to dictate to them. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, made clear that it was "up to the Palestinians to choose their own leaders'' though he sought to play down differences with Washington. In Parliament, agitated Labour MPs, protesting Mr. Bush's remarks, were assured by the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, that Britain would deal with whoever the Palestinians chose as their leader.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

10 Pak. securitymen killed in clash with Al-Qaeda

Arafat responds with poll schedule

'Post Special Representative for Kashmir'

Sale of land allowed in Russia

Suu Kyi in Mandalay

Spain bans ETA's political wing

U.K. rejects U.S. call

'Trade boycott' against India, Israel urged

'Islamophobia' deterring Muslim students

Pak. Govt. proposes sweeping changes in Constitution