JERUSALEM, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Colin Powell opposed the idea of exiling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, an idea floated regularly in recent days by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.

　　The report said Powell doubted the effectiveness of exiling Arafat while insisting the United States would not negotiate with the Palestinian leader, whom Washington dumped as a negotiating partner in June 2002.

　　"I would not support it," he said. "I don't know that would accomplish much to put him on the world stage as opposed to the stage he's currently occupying."

　　According to the report, senior Bush administration officials on Sunday also expressed doubts that any progress could be achieved in the peace process unless a new Palestinian National Authority (PNA)prime minister who is empowered and given the resources to fight terrorists is chosen.

　　The new PNA prime minister "has to have political authority and the determination to go after terrorism," Powell told ABC's This Week a day after Mahmoud Abbas submitted his resignation on Saturday.

　　"If that person does not make a solid commitment to follow the roadmap (peace plan), go after terrorism, and stop these terrorist attacks, then it's not clear that we'll be able to move forward,"he said. Enditem