ST LOUIS, Oct 9: President George Bush said on Friday he would not deal with Yasser Arafat because he did not believe Arafat could lead an independent Palestinian state.

"I wouldn't deal with Arafat because I felt like he had let the former president down and I don't think he's the kind of person that can lead toward a Palestinian state," Bush said during the debate with Senator John Kerry.

"People in Europe didn't like that decision," Bush went on.

"But it was the right thing to do. I believe Palestinians ought to have a state, but I know they need leadership that's committed to a democracy and freedom, leadership that would be willing to reject terrorism."-AFP