tasrit Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3984841.stmLast Updated: Thursday, 11 November, 2004, 11:55 GMT Palestinians had long been preparing for the worst. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who led his people's struggle for 40 years, has died aged 75 in a French hospital. The Israeli government, which branded him a terrorist, has suggested his death could be a turning point for peace in the Middle East. His body will go to Cairo for a funeral attended by Arab and other leaders before burial in Ramallah on Saturday. People wept openly in the Palestinian territories, where the authorities declared 40 days of mourning. Mr Arafat died of multiple organ failure at 0330 (0230 GMT) on Thursday - a "black day" in Palestinian history, in the words of Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. Mr Arafat's many powers are being divided among his officials, with Mahmoud Abbas elected head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Rawhi Fattuh sworn in as acting president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Flags have been flying at half mast outside the late Palestinian leader's compound in Ramallah, set to be his last resting place. People have been wearing chequered headscarves - Mr Arafat's trademark - and in the Gaza Strip, thousands took to the streets as mosque loudspeakers played quotes from the late leader. "Our father is dead," construction worker Fathi Abu Adnan told Reuters news agency in Gaza City as mourners let off volleys of bullets into the air. Israel has sealed off the West Bank as a security precaution and strengthened security at Jewish settlements. French President Jacques Chirac paid tribute to "a man of courage and conviction who for 40 years incarnated the Palestinians' fight for recognition of their national rights". YASSER ARAFAT: KEY DATES 24 Aug 1929: Born in Cairo 1958: Founds Fatah 1969: Elected PLO chairman 1974: Addresses UN General Assembly 1982: Expelled from Lebanon by Israelis 1990: Supports Saddam Hussein during First Gulf War 1991: Marries Suha Tawil 1993: At the White House signs peace agreement with Israel 1994: Jointly awarded Nobel peace prize with Rabin and Peres 2001: Israel blockades him inside Ramallah headquarters Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the death could be a turning point for peace if the Palestinians "ceased terrorism" and waged a "war on terror". Earlier, Justice Minister Tommy Lapid said it was good that the world was "rid" of Mr Arafat, whom he described as "the leader of terrorism against Israel". The White House simply described the death as a "significant moment in Palestinian history", and offered condolences. It has not been made clear what illness the Palestinian leader was suffering from, though doctors ruled out cancer and rejected the allegation - repeated on Thursday by the Hamas militant group - that he had been poisoned. He had been in a coma since 3 November and on Tuesday suffered a brain haemorrhage. In his final hours he had brain damage and kidney and liver failure. He had been brought to a military hospital near Paris from Ramallah on 29 October as tests showed he had a low count of blood platelets, needed for clotting. In Ramallah, officials said Mr Arafat may be interred in a stone coffin so that one day his body can be moved to Jerusalem where Palestinians hope to have the capital of a future independent state. President Chirac visited the hospital where Mr Arafat died to pay a personal tribute, saying he wished to bow before Mr Arafat and send a message of friendship and solidarity to the Palestinian people and their representatives. FUNERAL ORDER Thurs: French leaders pay respects before body is flown to Cairo, arriving late at night Fri morning: Funeral at King Faisal Mosque near Cairo airport Sat: Body is interred in Ramallah compound in West Bank The body will be flown to Cairo early on Thursday evening. Friday's funeral ceremony will be held at a mosque near Cairo's international airport, from which a helicopter will then transfer the coffin to Ramallah. Among the few non-Muslim heads of state or government expected to attend the funeral are South African President Thabo Mbeki and Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson. Other countries such as the UK are sending their foreign ministers. Bulldozers have been clearing a space at Mr Arafat's compound in Ramallah for his grave. In the absence of a clear line of succession, Palestinian leaders have agreed a plan to prevent a power struggle and chaos in the volatile Gaza Strip: * Parliamentary speaker Rawhi Fattuh takes over as PA president of the Palestinian Authority for 60 days, when an election is held * Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei takes over some of Mr Arafat's other powers * Mahmoud Abbas takes over at the PLO, headed by Mr Arafat for more than 40 years * Farouk Kaddoumi takes over as head of Fatah, the movement co-founded by Mr Arafat in 1958. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. This man was a corrupt coward who sat in his compound playing w/ little boys while he sent others out to kill innocent Israelis.The Middle East is a better place w/ him out of the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris817 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. This man was a corrupt coward who sat in his compound playing w/ little boys while he sent others out to kill innocent Israelis.The Middle East is a better place w/ him out of the picture.AmenHe is burning in Hell right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookie23 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Good riddance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siceone Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 24 Aug 1929: Born in Cairo Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 [. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpyrate Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 now that he's dead there should be peace in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceHe was a rat, umm so I guess that made him palestinian... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 [,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceummm He was a rat so I guess that kinda made him palestinian.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceummm He was a rat so I guees tha kinda made him palestinian.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceDouble posts blow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceKinda like finding out Vanilla Ice wasnt really from Miami...It wasnt his town that created all the bass sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obby Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 He will be missed................................by other terrorist but no me nor most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xpyrate Posted November 11 Report Share Posted November 11 now if only sharon would drop dead ... then we might get some headway amyscottsdale 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasrit Posted November 12 Author Report Share Posted November 12 Whoa whoa Whoa Hold on/.... this silly charachter was born in Cairo you mean he's not palestinian? Good riddanceHis father was Palestinian (from Jeruzalem I guess), so that make him also a Palestinian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djxeno Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. This man was a corrupt coward who sat in his compound playing w/ little boys while he sent others out to kill innocent Israelis.The Middle East is a better place w/ him out of the picture.Last time I checked they didn't give Nobel Peace Prizes to "terrorists".-XeNo- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 Last time I checked they didn't give Nobel Peace Prizes to "terrorists".-XeNo-The only noble thing that dickhead did was die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 Last time I checked they didn't give Nobel Peace Prizes to "terrorists".-XeNo-Well guess what, they did and the terrorist who got the NPP was buried earlier today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nootsy Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 Last time I checked they didn't give Nobel Peace Prizes to "terrorists".-XeNo-The NPP has become a joke - Regan spent a decade bringing down the Iron Curtain then when it fell they gave the NPP to Gorbechov sp?. The NPP has become a political tool , nothing more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djxeno Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 Sharon didn't get one lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 The NPP has become a joke - Regan spent a decade bringing down the Iron Curtain then when it fell they gave the NPP to Gorbechov sp?. The NPP has become a political tool , nothing moreI guess the NPP is the consolation prize for the losers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnice35 Posted November 12 Report Share Posted November 12 Sharon didn't get one lol.I think Sharon is more concerned with the security of his people than with a BS award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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