KANANASKIS -- With the eyes of the world on Calgary and Kananaskis, Prime Minister Jean Chretien told U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday it "might be a good thing" that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat be ousted.
Chretien made the surprise statement during a photo opportunity with Bush shortly after he arrived at the Kananaskis resort where the G-8 meetings officially begin today.
"The president talks about perhaps it would be better to replace Mr. Arafat," Chretien said.
I don't have a specific point of view on that. I think it might be a good thing.
"I don't want to comment on that. We need a quick election there and to produce the best leadership with it."
Bush calls for a provisional Palestinian state erected on the shoulders of a new generation of leaders other than Arafat.
"I'm told there will be elections before the end of the year," Chretien said as Bush sat at his side.
Later, senior government officials attempted to clarify the PM's remarks.
"I think he said it might be a good thing. I think he was speculative and he was ... making an emphasis on the comments by saying after that he was for free elections," an official said.
Chretien and the other G-8 leaders will discuss the Middle East crisis further at a dinner tonight.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci said Bush will be lobbying the leaders for support of his peace blueprint.
Cellucci refused to concede reports that Bush's peace initiative for the Middle East wouldn't overtake the G-8 agenda -- particularly Chretien's much ballyhooed Africa plan.
"I don't think that will happen. The president really wanted to make this announcement last week," Cellucci said.
"More suicide bombings prevented him from doing that.
"He needs to get this plan out there.
"He will be obviously talking about it with the leaders.
"He's going to look for their guidance. He's going to look for their support.
"This is very consistent with one of the major priorities of this summit, and that is this campaign of terrorism around the world."
Most of the Group of Eight leaders -- including host Prime Minister Chretien, Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair -- arrived in Calgary throughout the day yesterday.
The red carpet was rolled out for Bush, who was greeted at the Calgary airport by an RCMP honour guard and federal Health Minister Anne McLellan.
Bush was presented with a traditional white cowboy hat by Mayor Dave Bronconnier.
Bush's Mideast plan -- which critics say sets impossible conditions -- lays out a blueprint that would see the U.S. recognize an independent state of Palestine if Palestinians reject leader Yasser Arafat.
ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL
The borders and the capital of the new state would be negotiated with Israel.
Bush is proposing Israel withdraw to West Bank positions held two years ago and stop building Jewish settlements.
Freedom of movement in Palestinian areas would also resume.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops yesterday took over the seventh of the West Bank's eight major cities, with Bush's plan interpreted as a U.S. nod of approval for an offensive that is confining at least 700,000 Palestinians to their homes.
Smoke billowed over Hebron when the Israeli army blew up a building within the fortress-like municipal compound.
Israeli soldiers exchanged heavy gunfire with Palestinian police inside the compound throughout the day, and four officers were reported killed.
While Chretien didn't initially talk about Bush's Mideast plan, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said there were "some positive elements" to it.
LUKEWARM RECEPTION
Graham said Canada will deal with any leader -- including Arafat -- who is democratically elected.
Graham and International Co-operation Minister Susan Whalen got a lukewarm reception at the G-6B summit -- or People's Summit -- attended by about 400 activists.
"I believe that the future of Africa must not and cannot be decided at Kananaskis by the G-8," Njoki Njoroge Njehu told the crowd.
"One of the responsibilities that the Canadian government has is to support the implementation of African initiatives ... ones that involve the the consultation of the people across the continent."
Graham and Whalen took a wish list of initiatives, including cash to combat AIDS in Africa and wiping out debt for poor nations, the G-6B organizers want the world leaders to see.
Graham said he'd give the list, covering 13 areas, to Chretien and Bush.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.