Israel Warns Will Storm Arafat Office-Palestinian
Sat Mar 30, 2:14 PM ET

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli troops warned aides to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Saturday that they plan to storm his office within one hour, a Palestinian cabinet member said.


Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo said the Israeli commander of the force besieging Arafat's office had told Arafat's aides of the decision.

"The commander of the invading force surrounding President Arafat's headquarters gave an ultimatum, by which they will storm into the headquarters to arrest whoever they want and to leave others inside," Abed Rabbo told al-Jazeera television.

"This step is a plan by (Israeli Prime Minster Ariel) Sharon against President Arafat's life. This is a very grave step," he added.

Abed Rabbo later confirmed the information to Reuters.