Jerusalem: Describing Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman, Yasser Arafat, as the only "credible" leader and the "symbol of Palestinian struggle", India has expressed its continued support to the inalienable right of the Palestinians to have an independent State.

"We shall always stand by the just demands of the Palestinian masses and nothing can dilute our commitment to their cause," Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed, on a two day visit to the PA, said after meeting Arafat at Ramallah yesterday (Sep 17, 2004).

Condemning the "illegal confinement" of Arafat, whom India considers "the elected leader of the Palestinian masses," Ahamed said it will only worsen problems in the region.

"The confinement is indefensible in international law," he said adding, "This unwarranted and uncalled for action will only compound problems in the region and is unacceptable to India and international community at large."

When asked if the visit is a corrective measure in foreign policy initiated by the new dispensation in New Delhi in view of growing ties with Israel in diverse fields, the minister merely said, "Nothing can dilute our traditional ties with the Palestinians and the Arab world."

"We have expressed our support to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people in our Common Minimum Programme and the ties with Israel developed on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation will not impinge on it," Ahamed asserted.