PARIS (voa) – Yasser Arafat is dead. His death was announced early Thursday morning in France, where the Palestinian leader has been ailing for days.
Yasser Arafat’s death was announced both by Palestinian officials and the Percy Medical Hospital outside Paris, where the Mr. Arafat arrived for treatment of a mysterious illness nearly two weeks ago. The hospital said the 75-year-old Palestinian leader died in the early-morning hours.
Mr. Arafat had been hovering between life and death for days. His condition launched a flurry of contradictory news reports that he was dead, or brain dead, long before his demise was announced. It also unleashed a clash between his wife Suha and Palestinian officials.
His body will be flown to Cairo for a memorial ceremony and, after that, to the West Bank city, Ramallah, for burial. The arrangements were finalized after Israeli authorities gave the green light for his Ramallah burial.
Mr. Arafat was a controversial character — a hero and statesman to some and a terrorist to others. His passing raises questions about who might be his long-term successor and about the future of the Middle East peace process.
By Sonja Pace
JERUSALEM (voa) – Palestinians begin a 40-day mourning period following the death early Thursday morning of their leader, Yasser Arafat. Mr. Arafat died in the military hospital outside of Paris, where he had been taken, two weeks ago, for urgent medical treatment.
The news had been awaited. Yasser Arafat lay in a deep coma for the past week. Palestinian officials warned Wednesday that he was in his final hours.
The announcement came early Thursday morning.
Hospital spokesman, General Christian Estripeau, confirmed Yasser Arafat had died.
Palestinian officials announced the traditional Muslim mourning period. Flags at Mr. Arafat’s compound in Ramallah were lowered to half staff and Palestinian television broadcasts carried excerpts from the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
In Gaza Palestinians poured into the streets to show their grief and gunmen fired into the air.
Palestinian officials have called for calm, unity and an orderly transition of power.
