Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was accused of genocide today in a lawsuit presented in Paris by families of Jewish victims of recent violence in the Middle East.
"Arafat had the power and the means to stop acts of terrorism, murders and violence ... (But) he organised and paid for them with the money of the Palestinian Authority," the seven families - all French but resident in Israel - said in a statement.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said Mr Arafat does not have the status of foreign head of state which would grant him immunity under French law.
More than 3,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada, including around 700 Israelis.
AFP
