Annan Warns Against Isolating Arafat in Medeast
"Being isolated and virtually being under house arrest makes it difficult for him to lead," Annan told reporters after a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"I think we need to be careful how we deal with the situation because when the leader who is supposed to act is weakened to the point of impotence we have a real problem on our hands," he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Annan discussed the Middle East conflict and Afghanistan with Austrian President Thomas Klestil.
"We discussed the grave situation in the Middle East and our concern for urgent action to ensure that we can pull the protagonists back from the precipice," he told reporters at an earlier press conference.
He said the United States should remain involved.
"They need to engage both sides and the U.S. is a country that both sides are looking to for mediation," said Annan. "I hope it will retain its contact with both parties, because that's the only way the mediator could be most effective."
The United States has put intense pressure on Arafat to crack down on militants behind attacks on Israelis.
But Annan said Arafat, confined to the West Bank city of Ramallah by Israel, needed freedom to act as an effective leader in the current tense atmosphere, AFP reported.
"If he is to lead, he should have a bit more liberty to move around and talk to his people and deal with them. He must be given the space and the political time to act," Annan said.
Annan praised post-war reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
"We need resources quickly to be able to strengthen the new administration and I hope that will be forthcoming," he said.
Arab League Chief Amr Moussa left Cairo for Vienna to deliver a message to Annan from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, an Arab League spokesman said.
"It is related to the situation in general (in Iraq) and the dialogue between the United Nations and Iraq," he said.