WASHINGTON, Jan 9: US Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Wednesday to urgently provide an explanation over a shipment of arms seized in the Red Sea last week.

“The Secretary did talk to Chairman Arafat this morning and reminded him of the seriousness that we attach to this issue and the urgent need for a full explanation,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said of Powell’s telephone conversation.

Boucher said that Arafat had reiterated he was not involved in the arms shipment, which Israel said was arranged by Arafat’s Palestinian Authority.

Boucher said the United States regarded the arms shipment issue with some urgency.—Reuters