U.S. urges Arafat to yield powers to end turmoil

The United States seized on the unprecedented challenge to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's leadership and on Tuesday revived its demand he give up powers to end turmoil in the Gaza Strip.

Secretary of State Colin Powell blamed Arafat for a leadership crisis in which his prime minister has threatened to quit because of a lack of power to undertake reforms, protesters have rallied against cronyism and militants kidnapped local officials.

"It is chaotic at the moment," Powell told reporters. "We believe the correct path forward involves Mr. Arafat yielding power, real executive power to a prime minister, for that prime minister to do what is needed for the Palestinian community."

"And when that happens, then we can get moving on a (peace) road map. We can deal with not only the security problems, but the economic problems that are afflicting the Palestinian people," he added.

The Bush administration has sought to sideline Arafat but has been criticized for doing too little to support Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, which Democrats see as a symptom of its lack of involvement in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Source: Agencies