JERUSALEM, Dec 31: Palestinian leaders, facing pressure from militants who favour escalating an uprising against Israel, shuttle to neighbouring Arab countries today to discuss a US bid for a Middle East peace deal, reports Reuters.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat arrived in Tunis for talks and planned to go on to Morocco for more discussions, while Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he would visit Amman today for meetings with Jordanian officials.

Arafat's Fatah faction called on Saturday for an escalation in a three-month-old Intifada (uprising) to mark the 36th anniversary of the group's foundation and usher in 2001 as the year of Palestinian independence.

Seeking to sway a doubtful public, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned his people on Saturday they would face war if his hawkish rival Ariel Sharon won looming elections.

Palestinians are still weighing their response to plans put forward by US President Bill Clinton last week that would reportedly give them sovereignty over the upper part of a key Jerusalem holy site and areas of Arab East Jerusalem.

In return they will accept a restriction on the right of return for refugees who fled or were forced to leave their homes in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, while Israel would maintain control over west Jerusalem and the lower part of the holy site.

Adding pressure on Palestinians, Israeli media reported that Clinton spoke with Arafat by telephone on Friday night to urge a Palestinian response to his proposal by Wednesday, less than three weeks before his term of office ends.

A Palestinian official said Palestinian delegates were due to hold talks in coming days with US officials in Washington, following failed talks between Israeli minister Amnon Lipkin-

Shahak and Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Korei.

Western diplomats warned of a stand-off between the Palestinians and the United States over the details of the plan.

Palestinians want more information before accepting it as a blueprint for a deal, and say they will only give their verdict after receiving clarifications.

Meanwhile, a combative Barak said he would triumph over Ariel Sharon despite polls that suggest the Likud party leader would trounce him in a special February 6 prime ministerial ballot.

"I will win this election," Barak told Russian state television in a pre-recorded interview. "The real choice is Barak and war. I don't want to put Sharon off peace, but (it's) Barak or war."

Sharon has said that it elected he would seek a long-term peace deal with the Palestinians to be implemented over several years.