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12/11/2004
Arafat's coffin arrives in Ramallah
The body of the Yasser Arafat has arrived in Ramallah – the compound where he spent two years blockaded in by the Israeli army.
The Palestinian leader, whom Tony Blair described as having "symbolised the Palestinian national movement", is expected to be buried in a stone coffin inside his ruined compound before sunset.
The interment in Ramallah takes place following a ceremony in Cairo this morning where heads of state and international political leaders – including Foreign Secretary Jack Straw – paid their final respects.
Following the service at a mosque in the Cairo suburb Heliopolis, the entourage processed behind a gun carriage containing Arafat's flag-covered coffin at al-Maza airbase.
The national anthems of both Palestine and Egypt were played as the coffin was put on board a plane bound for the West Bank.
In the long term, Palestinian officials want to bury Arafat - in accordance with his wishes – at Temple Mount in occupied east Jerusalem, however, the Israeli government has voiced its opposition to this.
The 75-year-old Palestinian leader died at a French military hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning. He is understood to have died from a brain haemorrhage after slipping into a coma on November 3. A 40-day period of mourning will be observed during which time interim leaders will be appointed and elections organised.
Arafat's health deteriorated sharply last month and he was forced to leave his Ramallah compound on October 29 to seek treatment in a French hospital for a "low blood platelet count". However, the exact nature of his illness – and his physical condition in the final days – were dealt with only in the most ambiguous terms by Palestinian officials. At one stage, Mr Arafat was said to be in a "reversible coma".
The militant group Hamas added to the confusion when it claimed that Arafat had in fact been poisoned by Israeli agents. The allegation was immediately rejected by Palestinian officials.
(gmcg)
The Palestinian leader, whom Tony Blair described as having "symbolised the Palestinian national movement", is expected to be buried in a stone coffin inside his ruined compound before sunset.
The interment in Ramallah takes place following a ceremony in Cairo this morning where heads of state and international political leaders – including Foreign Secretary Jack Straw – paid their final respects.
Following the service at a mosque in the Cairo suburb Heliopolis, the entourage processed behind a gun carriage containing Arafat's flag-covered coffin at al-Maza airbase.
The national anthems of both Palestine and Egypt were played as the coffin was put on board a plane bound for the West Bank.
In the long term, Palestinian officials want to bury Arafat - in accordance with his wishes – at Temple Mount in occupied east Jerusalem, however, the Israeli government has voiced its opposition to this.
The 75-year-old Palestinian leader died at a French military hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning. He is understood to have died from a brain haemorrhage after slipping into a coma on November 3. A 40-day period of mourning will be observed during which time interim leaders will be appointed and elections organised.
Arafat's health deteriorated sharply last month and he was forced to leave his Ramallah compound on October 29 to seek treatment in a French hospital for a "low blood platelet count". However, the exact nature of his illness – and his physical condition in the final days – were dealt with only in the most ambiguous terms by Palestinian officials. At one stage, Mr Arafat was said to be in a "reversible coma".
The militant group Hamas added to the confusion when it claimed that Arafat had in fact been poisoned by Israeli agents. The allegation was immediately rejected by Palestinian officials.
(gmcg)
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11 November 2004
Arafat passes away in French hospital
The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has died at a French military hospital in the early hours of this morning. The 75-year-old Palestinian leader is understood to have died from a brain haemorrhage after slipping into a coma on November 3.
Arafat passes away in French hospital
The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has died at a French military hospital in the early hours of this morning. The 75-year-old Palestinian leader is understood to have died from a brain haemorrhage after slipping into a coma on November 3.
11 November 2004
British government pays tribute to Palestinian leader
The British government has paid tribute to the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and offered its condolences to the Palestinian people. Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that Mr Arafat, who "came to symbolise the Palestinian national movement", would be chiefly remembered for his "historic acceptance" of the two-state solution.
British government pays tribute to Palestinian leader
The British government has paid tribute to the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and offered its condolences to the Palestinian people. Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that Mr Arafat, who "came to symbolise the Palestinian national movement", would be chiefly remembered for his "historic acceptance" of the two-state solution.
10 January 2005
Abbas wins Palestinian Presidential election
Mahmoud Abbas has achieved a landslide victory in the Palestinian Presidential elections. Mr Abbas, the moderate leader of the Fatah political faction, will be the successor to Yasser Arafat who died last year.
Abbas wins Palestinian Presidential election
Mahmoud Abbas has achieved a landslide victory in the Palestinian Presidential elections. Mr Abbas, the moderate leader of the Fatah political faction, will be the successor to Yasser Arafat who died last year.
22 November 2004
No poisons found in Arafat's body, says nephew
Eleven days after Yasser Arafat's death, a Palestinian official has said that the 75-year-old's body contained no trace of poison, but declined to categorically rule out that he had been poisoned.
No poisons found in Arafat's body, says nephew
Eleven days after Yasser Arafat's death, a Palestinian official has said that the 75-year-old's body contained no trace of poison, but declined to categorically rule out that he had been poisoned.
28 October 2004
Doctors examine 'seriously ill' Arafat
The Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, who has been ensconced at his Ramallah compound for more than two years now, is very seriously ill, according to reports. Mr Arafat has been ill for the past week but his condition has deteriorated over the past 24 hours.
Doctors examine 'seriously ill' Arafat
The Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, who has been ensconced at his Ramallah compound for more than two years now, is very seriously ill, according to reports. Mr Arafat has been ill for the past week but his condition has deteriorated over the past 24 hours.
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