Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath on Monday denied Israeli reports that US president George W. Bush said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat should be eliminated.

"Many US sources said these statements are incorrect and President Arafat has received many telephone calls asserting that these statements are not true," Shaath told the Jerusalem-based Al-Quds daily.

Asked about the ongoing contacts in order to schedule a meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon, Shaath said the contacts are still underway.

He added that Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and head of Qurei's office Hassan Abu Lebda would be holding a meeting with head of Sharon's office Dov Weissglas on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2003)