Ramallah (West Bank): UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen on September 29 quoted senior Israeli officials as saying the Army will pull back to positions held before the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising two years ago, starting with a complete pull-out from the West Bank town of Ramallah.

"From what I understand from the Israeli government at the highest level is there will be a complete pull-back by Israeli troops to the positions of pre-September 2000," Roed-Larsen said after Israel relaxed its siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters.

"From what I understand, there will be a complete pull-back from Ramallah today," said the Norwegian diplomat, who met Arafat immediately after Israeli armour pulled back from his doorstep.

Israel earlier had said it would lift the siege of Arafat's offices after a 10-day blockade but would keep troops in the area in case 41 wanted Palestinians in the building tried to escape.

Several hours after tanks left the headquarters compound, there were no troops to be seen in the area and the Army refused to comment on how it intended to nab the suspects should they try to leave.