A new row has broken out over the United States' Middle East policy after Secretary of State Colin Powell suggested the possible creation of a provisional Palestinian state. Mr Powell made his remarks in an interview with the Arabic newspaper al-Hayat, during which he also made it clear the United States would continue working with Yasser Arafat. But the White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, pointedly failed to endorse Mr Powell's suggestions. The secretary of state's comments appear to have thrown even more confusion into the Bush administration's already less than clear policy towards the Middle East. Mr Powell is now in Whistler in Canada for a meeting of G8 foreign ministers.