The World - News from Dec. 2, 1988

The United States refused a formal request by the U.N. General Assembly to issue a visa to Yasser Arafat, and Arab diplomats said they will introduce a resolution today to move the General Assembly session from U.N. headquarters in New York to Geneva to give the Palestine Liberation Organization leader a platform for a speech on the Palestinian issue. A ranking U.N. official said a vote to move to Geneva could be taken Monday and that approval is certain. The U.S. letter of refusal was “extremely negative,” a diplomatic source said. Meanwhile, 61 senators and eight senators-elect endorsed the U.S. decision to deny Arafat a visa.