Military

DATE=3/22/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=YASSIN/ARAB REACT (L-UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-314367

BYLINE=KERRY SHERIDAN

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Key diplomats in the Middle East peace process are set to meet Monday in Cairo to discuss Israel's killing of the spiritual leader of the militant Hamas organization. Kerry Sheridan reports from Cairo.

TEXT: Representatives from the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia say they will convene at the U-S Embassy in Cairo to discuss how to revive the peace process.

The four parties last year produced the so-called road map to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Earlier Monday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin had derailed the peace process.

/// MUBARAK ACT IN ARABIC, EST AND FADE UNDER ///

He also called for other countries to adopt a clear position, given the new circumstances.

The wheelchair-bound spiritual leader of the Islamic militant group, Hamas, was killed Monday by a missile attack launched by Israeli helicopter gunships.

The news sparked anger across the Arab world, and demonstrators took to the streets in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Yemen to denounce the Israeli action.

Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Britain were among the countries that immediately condemned the killing, which Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was reported to have personally ordered.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia called it a dangerous and cowardly act that, in his words, opens the door wide to chaos. Several Islamic groups have vowed to take revenge.

White House National Security adviser Condoleezza Rice appealed for calm in the region and denied allegations that the United States had any advance warning of the Israeli attack.

She also reiterated the U-S position that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and did not condemn the attack.

The Egyptian president announced he will cancel a trip to Israel by an Egyptian delegation Tuesday. The controversial visit was planned to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. (Signed)

NEB/KS/ALW/MEM