Arafat defiant atop pillar

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat defiantly refused to submit to Israeli pressure last night, despite having been left standing alone on top of a pillar that once held up his headquarters' roof.

Mr Arafat has been under siege for four days but shouted down to reporters below that he would not give in to the Israeli Government's demands that he surrender 50 suspected militants suspecting of hiding in his Ramallah offices. Over the course of those days, troops have blown up and demolished every building in the once large compound, finally destroying Arafat's own office late last night.

Even though it would appear impossible to hide even one person on the eight-foot round pillar, Israeli troops have surrounded the column and continue to demand through loudspeakers that everyone come out.

Observers suspect that, despite Israeli claims that they have no intention of hurting the Palestinian leader, the aim of the military operation is to force Arafat into self-imposed exile.

If that is indeed their intention, they may have a long wait. Mr Arafat appears to be in fine spirits, joking with observers below about being king of the castle and even making time to play a prank call on Libyan leader Mustafa Gadaffi on the satellite phone he took with him onto the pillar.

Arafat has remained in touch with world leaders through the siege although president Dubya is reportedly refusing to return his calls. Food will soon become an issue for Arafat however, with Israeli troops refusing to let through any of the pizza deliveries he ordered on Sunday night.

Supporters have taken to throwing hard ham buns with onion in at the tower but for every one Yasser catches, another 200 fall foul, providing the local wildlife with a constant supply of food. Mr Arafat has also been trying to preserve his phone's depleted batteries by barking orders to his cabinet below but his voice is now growing hoarse and many believe he will ask to be airlifted off the stone within the next 24 hours.

The Israeli army's actions have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community although no one is going to do anything, one diplomat told us. Talks over the Middle East peace plan are meanwhile said to be progressing nicely.