Arafat has been the symbol of Palestinian aspirations for independence
RAMALLAH/PARIS, November 11 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was officially declared dead on Thursday, November 11.
"Our president, our leader, the holder of the flag to the new future, brother Yasser Arafat, passed away at 4:30 this morning (0230 GMT)," Tayeb Abdelrahim, head of Arafat’s office, told reporters outside the presidential Muqataa headquarters, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"The Palestinian leadership mourns with our people, with the Arab nation, with the whole of humanity, (the loss of) the tutor, the leader, the son of Palestine, its symbol, the builder of its modern nationalism and the hero of its battle for freedom and independence," he added.
The death was confirmed by the French army's top doctor, General Christian Estripeau.
"Mr Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority, has died at Percy military hospital at Clamart on November 11 at 3:30 am (02:30 GMT)," he announced in a short statement outside the hospital.
The 75-year-old Palestinian leader was receiving medical treatment at Percy from a yet mysterious illness.
Palestinian sources revealed to IslamOnline.net on Tuesday, November 9, that it was a matter of time before Arafat’s death would be officially declared.
On Sunday, November 7, well-placed Palestinian sources told IOL the French doctors told Mrs Arafat and officials accompanying him that the Palestinian leader had passed away.
The Palestinian Authority and Fatah, Arafat’s mainstream movement, asked the French to keep the news under wraps and give them 36 hours to arrange the home front, they added.
The death announcement came two days after a visit to Percy hospital by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, acting PLO Executive Committee Chief Mahmud Abbas, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and Speaker of the Legislative Council (the lower house of parliament) Rawhi Fattuh.
The Palestinian Authority declared a general mourning across the occupied territories, while the Palestinian flag was flying at half-mast at the Muqataa and local television broadcast verses from the Noble Qur’an.
Arafat’s funeral will be organized in the Egyptian capital Cairo and he will be laid to rest in his Ramallah compound, where he was confined by Israeli forces for more than three years.
Arafat arrived in France Friday, October 29, to receive treatment.
Berita yang berkaitan:
Arafat… 45 Years of Struggle for Independence
Daripada sudut pandangan yang berbeza
Pejuang Yang Bernama Yasser Arafat a.k.a. Abu Ammar
No comments:
Post a Comment