Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat is free to leave his Ramallah headquarters as Israeli troops withdraw bringing to an end a month-old siege.
Israeli forces began withdrawing from Mr Arafat's compound as six Palestinians, wanted by Israel, arrived in a convoy at a prison in the West Bank desert oasis of Jericho.
The first of the six to leave was the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)'s armed wing, Mr Ahed Abu Gholma, witnesses said.
Mr Abu Gholma, in a wheelchair after being injured, was taken from the building to a waiting convoy of 12 vehicles, six bullet-proof four-by-fours and six Israeli army jeeps which will escort the men to international custody in a Palestinian jail in Jericho.
He was followed by Mr Bassel al-Asmar, sentenced by a military tribunal held in the compound last week to 12 years in prison for acting as a look-out in last October's assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi, witnesses said.
Mr Arafat tentatively agreed to put an initiative by US President Bush in motion by moving the six men wanted by to the Jericho jail where they will be held under the supervision of America and Britain.
Meanwhile Israel stuck to its guns in blocking a UN mission to investigate death and destruction at the Jenin refugee camp, where Palestinians accuse Israeli forces of committing a massacre during a West Bank sweep for militants.
Israeli officials made clear they were prepared to weather the storm if UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan disbanded the Jenin fact-finding mission after Israel imposed tough conditions on its activities in the West Bank camp, where Israel insists no massacre took place.
Government spokesman Mr Mark Sofer said Israel was unfazed by the introduction of a Security Council resolution by Arab members, led by Syria and Tunisia, demanding it cooperate with the inquiry or else face undefined measures. The US has opposed the resolution.
Mr Annan was expected to make a decision soon on whether to cancel the UN's Jenin mission. Sources say a formal UN investigation may be launched, if the Israelis fail to agree to the mission.
Fifty-two people have been confirmed killed in the Jenin camp, but Palestinian doctors say hundreds more civilians may have died, many in homes razed by bulldozers during fighting
PA, AFP and