U.N. Delays Palestine Debate

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly today delayed its annual debate on the Palestine problem, the first step toward convening a special session outside New York to hear PLO leader Yasser Arafat.

General Assembly President Dante Caputo told the assembly that he had received a request from Arab nations to postpone the debate scheduled for Thursday, Friday and next Tuesday. Since there were no objections, Caputo said, the request was granted. Caputo said earlier that the assembly will move swiftly to provide Arafat an alternative forum, probably a special session in Geneva, after the United States denied Arafat an entry visa.