'Let Arafat attend Non-Aligned summit'

'Let Arafat attend Non-Aligned summit'

MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur urged major world powers on Tuesday to persuade Israel to allow Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kuala Lumpur next month.

An arch supporter of the Palestinian cause and persistent critic of Israel, mostly Muslim Malaysia is concerned the summit for leaders of 114 developing nations could be disrupted by a potential Gulf War.

Arafat has been confined for more than two years in Israel's military grip in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He denies Israeli accusations that he is involved in funding and encouraging violence and has called on Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israeli citizens.

The NAM meetings begin on Feb. 20, but the leaders meet on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25. So far, 50 countries have confirmed they will attend, state-run Bernama news agency reported. --Reuters