Washington ? A symbolic Mideast peace deal has won praise from Secretary of State Colin Powell, the second senior U.S. official in a week to express support for such “freelance” initiatives at a time of deadlock over a Washington-led peace plan.

Powell’s letter to the authors of the so-called Geneva Accord, made public Friday, was seen by some as a veiled rebuke to Israel’s hardline prime minister, Ariel Sharon, who has attacked the agreement as subversive. An Israeli official brushed aside Powell’s letter, saying it would have no effect, and that the U.S.-backed “road map” plan remains the only serious proposal.

In the West Bank, weeks of political wrangling appeared closer to resolution Friday as Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and veteran leader Yasser Arafat agreed on the appointment of an interior minister.

The two also moved closer to resolving a dispute over control of security forces, a Palestinian official said. An end to the standoff would clear the way for formation of a new Palestinian government and a renewal of high-level talks with Israel.

The road map details steps toward ending three years of violence and establishing a Palestinian state by 2005, but does not detail national borders. The Geneva agreement fills that gap, calling for a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip, virtually all of the West Bank and Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Its authors say it is compatible with the U.S.-backed plan.

In new violence Friday, Israeli troops killed three Palestinians, including a 10-year-old boy and a gunman.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, left, jokes with the German representative to the Palestinian National Authority Andreas Reinich as Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia sits next to them during a meeting at Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah. The dispute between Arafat and Qureia over control of security forces remained unresolved Friday, despite a recent series of stormy meetings. The standoff is preventing the formation of a new Palestinian government.