RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Palestinian leadership on Monday urged the international community to send observers to keep Israeli troops at bay and allow it to pursue reforms and the peace process.

"We're urging the quartet to send international observers," Yasser Arafat's spokesman Nabil abu Rudeina said as Arafat hosted talks with European envoys on the first day after Israel lifted its 10-day siege of his headquarters.

The so-called quartet on the Middle East is made up of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.

The observers, which the Palestinians have sought in vain since the uprising began two years ago, would "monitor the situation" and keep the two sides apart, Abu Rudeina told a press conference.

He said it is important for the quartet to help ensure Israel fully lifts the siege and withdraws to positions held before the uprising began.

Israeli troops, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, were still seen traveling through parts of Ramallah after the troops pulled out of Arafat's compound Sunday.

Abu Rudeina conditioned further political reforms -- which are not only demanded by Israel and the United States but also by Palestinians -- on whether Israeli troops stay back.

"We're still committed to continuing our reforms and we're still preparing ourselves for free elections, but we're in need of the right space and right environment," Abu Rudeina said.

He was speaking outside Arafat's ruined headquarters after the veteran Palestinian leader met a French diplomat.