Shaath: Arafat still alive, arrangements for burial in Ramullah underway
Palestine, Politics, 11/10/2004

The Palestinians national authority ended the contradiction overwhelmed in recent days over the health condition of the Palestinians president Yasser Arafat. The Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath announced that Arafat is still alive and that his heart, brain and lungs are still working but he suffers brain hemorrhaging.

In a press conference in Paris, Shaath refused to talk about the death of Arafat or arrangements for his burial. He denied any intention to discuss what is called "mercy death," noting that Islam rejects disconnecting life-support instruments which enable the patient to remain alive. For his part, the secretary of the PLO executive committee Mahmoud Abbas said that the health condition of Arafat is very dangerous and that he is in a very critical health condition but still alive.

The leading Palestinian delegation composed of Mahmoud Abbas, the Prime minister Ahmad Qurei and the chairman of the Palestinian legislative council Rouhi Fattouh as well as Shaath had left Paris and arrived in Amman in its way to Ramullah after it had visited Arafat in Percy hospital and met with the French President Jack Chirac at the Elysee palace.

Simultaneously, it was announced that the PLO executive committee and the central committee of the Fatah movement will be meeting today ( Wednesday) under the chairmanship of Mahmoud Abbas at the headquarters of the Presidency in Ramullah.

The meeting came to announce the official consent on the Egyptian proposal to carry out the seen off ceremony for Arafat after his death in Cairo and to discuss his burial arrangements in Ramullah.

The Yemeni news agency said that the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak notified his Yemeni peer Ali Abdullah Saleh that Cairo is preparing to organize a funeral for Arafat after his death before his burial in Ramullah.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian delegation to Paris ignoring Suha Arafat's insults   (11/9/2004)
  When withdrawal from Gaza is made, UN observers in Sinai are ready to protect the borders   (11/8/2004)
  French daily and Sharon   (11/8/2004)

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