Palestinian Leaders Delay Arafat Visit

The Palestinian leadership today postponed a visit to Yasser Arafat after the leader's wife told them to stay away and accused them of conspiring to "bury him alive".

Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, the acting head of the PLO and Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, and the foreign minister, Nabil Shaath, were visiting Mr Arafat - who is gravely ill and possibly on life support in a French military hospital - as part of efforts to secure a orderly handover of power should he die.

An Arab diplomat last night said the three men would discuss with Mr Arafat's wife, Suha, and his nephew, Nasser al-Qadawah, whether he should be buried in his family plot in Khan Yunis, in the Gaza strip, or in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where he has spent the last few years.

There had also been speculation that they would travel back to the occupied territories with Mr Arafat, either after his death or in order to allow him to die in Palestinian territory.

Little is known about Mr Arafat's condition, and his wife is closely guarding the information being released. Christian Estripeau, the spokesman for the Percy military hospital, has said all his statements are being made in accordance with her wishes.

Ms Arafat today told the al-Jazeera television channel: "You have to realise the size of the conspiracy. I tell you they are trying to bury Abu Ammar [Mr Arafat's nom de guerre] alive. Abu Ammar is well, and he is coming back to his homeland."

Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a senior Palestinian Authority aide, later confirmed that the leaders' trip had been cancelled after Ms Arafat's intervention. "They are angry with Suha and don't want to go," he told a news conference in Ramallah.

Mr Rahim went on to accuse Ms Arafat of "wanting to destroy the Palestinian leadership's decision and to be the lone decision maker", saying: "What came from Suha doesn't represent our people."

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian cabinet minister and negotiator, meanwhile said the cabinet and PLO leadership would meet later today to discuss the situation and decide what to do next.

The Palestinian leadership has been spending the last week trying to avoid the prospect of a power vacuum should Mr Arafat die. Mr Qureia - who is also known as Abu Ala - has met representatives of all 13 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and urged them to avoid infighting.

Hamas, the most powerful Islamist organisation, has called for a united Palestinian leadership after Mr Arafat's death. He has opposed such an agreement, believing that it would give Hamas a veto over policy.

The Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, has offered to mediated between the rival factions and host a summit to agree a new Palestinian council. "There are contacts now between Egypt and other countries to achieve this meeting," Mr Mubarak said today.

Ms Arafat's intervention presents another unpredictable element in Palestinian politics. She is widely believed to control the millions collected by the PLO.