Leaders to take part in al-Assad's funeral

It was announced in Paris on Sunday that French President Jacque Chirac will on Tuesday head for Syria in order to take part in the funeral procession of the Late President al-Assad.

A source at the French Presidium said that the foreign minister Hubert Vedrine will accompany President Chirac in attending the funeral.

Meantime, former chairman of the Palestinian national council Khaled al-Fahoum said in a statement on Sunday that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat will arrive today ( Monday) to take part in the funeral of the late President.

Al-Fahoum explained that Arafat will lead a delegation including the chairman of the PLO political department Farouk al-Qaddoumi, the secretary of the executive committee of the PLO Mahmoud Abbas and other senior high ranking Syrian officials. In Baghdad, it was also announced on Sunday that Iraq's vice President Taha Muhey eddine Marouf will represent his country to the funeral of President al-Assad.

London said on Sunday that the British foreign office minister Robin Cook will take part in the funeral ceremony of the late President.

This was expressed by a source at the British foreign ministry and confirmed by the British TV and radio station BBC news on Sunday evening.