United Nations: In a rebuke to Washington, the United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly affirmed sovereignty of Palestinians over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

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The Assembly, in a resolution, asserted that Israel does not speak on behalf of territories occupied by it and the status of the occupied Palestinian territories, inc voting for the resolution which was opposed by six. Eleven members abstained.

Supporting the resolution were four of the five permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France and Russia.

Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau joined the US and Israel in opposing the resolution.

Arabs said that the resolution was aimed at refuting Bush's contention that Israel could keeps some settlements it has constructed on the Arab land.

Observer for Palestine Nasser al-Kidwa said that the resolution was important as it reaffirmed sovereignty of the Palestinian people over their land. "That right is constant and cannot be altered or voided by passage of time or because of changes on the ground," he said.

US President George Bush had angered the Palestinians when he said that Israel could not be expected to give up all settlements and allow return of Palestinian refugees.