Arafat defies Sharon's threat on his life

RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Yasser Arafat responded defiantly yesterday to new threats against his life by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, telling a crowd of supporters he would embrace martyrdom.

"All of us are martyrs-in-the-waiting," Arafat said at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where some 4000 people chanted they would sacrifice their "blood and souls" for the veteran leader.

But, flashing a V-for-Victory sign, he vowed to continue to lead his people, declaring: "I want to tell Sharon and his gang that the mountain cannot be shaken by the wind."

In fresh violence, Israeli forces killed four Palestinians, at least three of them militants, in the West Bank.

Sharon, in comments that could rally support in his right-wing Likud Party before its May 2 vote on his Gaza pullout plan, had said he no longer felt bound by a pledge he made three years ago to United States President George W. Bush not to harm Arafat.

"I release myself from this commitment regarding Arafat," Sharon told Israel's Channel Two television in his strongest verbal threat yet against his long-time adversary.

A Sharon deputy said yesterday there was no immediate Israeli plan to harm Arafat.

"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not intend to put something into action this very week, or today or tomorrow," Vice-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Army Radio.

"He set out a position in principle regarding Arafat and the immunity he [Arafat] thought he enjoyed."

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Washington expected Sharon to keep his promise to Bush.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice phoned Sharon's chief of staff to voice opposition to any move against Arafat, a US official said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie said harming Arafat would end any hope of peace and open a new chapter in the violence.

- REUTERS