'OPENING FOR PEACE': Bush sees post-Arafat process

US: President Bush said yesterday there was an "opening for peace" in the Middle East with the end of the rule of the Palestinian…

US: President Bush said yesterday there was an "opening for peace" in the Middle East with the end of the rule of the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat.

Asked in the White House if he saw such an opening, Mr Bush said he did. "There will be an opening for peace when the leadership of the Palestinian people steps forward and says help us build a democratic and free society.

"When that happens and I believe it is going to happen, because all people desire to live in freedom, the United States of America will be willing to help to build the institutions necessary for a free society to emerge so that the Palestinians can have their own state."

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the NATO Secretary General, he said he envisioned "two states with Palestinians and Israel living side by side in peace and I think we've got a chance to do that. I look forward to being involved in that process."

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Mr Bush has so far refused to consider Mr Arafat as a partner in the Middle East peace process.