Powell with Christian leaders, latest from Bethlehem

(13 Apr 2002) Jerusalem 1. Various of exterior United States Consulate 2. Wide interior photo-op of United States Secretary of State Colin Powell meeting Patriarchs of the Latin, Greek, Armenian and Coptic Churches 3. Various of photo-op 4. United States envoy General Anthony Zinni in room 5. Wide exterior of Consulate Bethlehem 6. Various Night Shots of Bethlehem skyline, including Church of the Nativity 7. Various wide of Bethlehem Day-time, including wide showing Israeli balloon mounted camera over church 8. Long shot Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem street 9. Armoured personnel carriers in street 10. Wide Bethlehem skyline STORYLINE: Christian leaders on Saturday proposed to the US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Israeli troops leave Bethlehem for three days and allow Palestinians, some of whom are armed, inside the Church of the Nativity to put down their weapons and go home. The Reverend Raed Abu Sahaliya, a Roman Catholic patriarch spokesman, told The Associated Press that the proposal was given to Powell during his meeting in Jerusalem with Patriarchs and heads of the various Christian Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical churches in Jerusalem. The proposal called for a three-day truce during which the Israeli army would withdraw from Bethlehem, including the basilica area. Then, the Palestinian Authority would be asked to collect the weapons and allow the people to leave the basilica and safely go home. It also called for water, food and electricity to be provided to the church, noting there are civilians also inside the compound. Powell has not commented on the proposal, which isn't likely to be acceptable to Israel. The proposal - described by Christian leaders as a "possible solution" - is part of efforts to end the standoff at one of Christianity's holiest sites. About 200 Palestinians sought refuge in the ancient church on April 1, when Israeli forces invaded Bethlehem. Tanks and armoured personnel carriers surround the church compound, with snipers in place and a white surveillance blimp trailing cameras providing a view of the grounds below. The church is built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus. About 60 members of the clergy have remained inside the compound. Israeli and Palestinian officials have said many ideas were being floated to end the standoff without violence or damage to the church, including the possibility of the armed men surrendering to a third party. Israeli officials, however, have said they insist the men be tried by Israel. From inside the church, the Palestinians also appealed to Colin Powell on Saturday, seeking his intervention in the standoff as well as the help of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Pope John Paul II. They issued two statements, one directed to the Pope and UN chief Kofi Annan, the other to Powell, who is currently touring the region. "We are calling on both of you to intervene immediately," the statement read. The Palestinians invited Powell to "come as a pilgrim and to witness what is going on inside the church, the place which the Israeli occupation army has made into a prison". "Surrounding it with dozens of tanks and armored personnel carriers harms the holiness of this place," the statement said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...