Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a top aide to Arafat, told Xinhua that Arafat met Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, and his delegation that participated in the meeting at Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah.

Abbas and his delegation presented to Arafat a briefing about what had been discussed in the meeting and the results both sides came up with, said Abu Rudeineh.

Arafat told Abbas that each side has to be serious in working together to implement the roadmap peace plan and he fully supports Abbas' effort, Abu Rudeineh added.

In another development, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Minister of Information Nabil Amer earlier said the meeting between Sharon and Abbas in Jerusalem was positive.

It has been agreed that the Israeli side would immediately carryout a series of urgent steps to ease the daily life of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, Amer said.

He added that Israel has promised to release Tayseer Khaled, a member of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee who was arrested in Ramallah several months ago.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2003)