Arab and international reactions on Arafat's death
Lebanon and Tunis on Thursday declared official mourning for three days over the death of the Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. A memo issued by the Lebanese Cabinet said flags would be put at half mast in a sign of grief over the passing away of the Palestinian leader.
Tunis also put flags at half mast while the Tunisian President sent a message of condolences to the Palestinian Legislative Council Chairman Rowhi Fathi.
Syria declared the official mourning for three days during which all flags over official institutions in Syria and Syria's embassies as well as diplomatic missions abroad would be put at half mast starting from today.
In Morocco, King Mohammed VI has declared a three-day mourning.
Meanwhile, Iran has extended condolences to the Palestinian people over the passing away of Arafat. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hammed Asefi said in a statement that Iran stands by the Palestinian people in his ordeal but the most important thing is to "keep unity and rally ranks as not to allow the Zionist entity make use of the situation."
Iran is to send a high ranking delegation to attend Arafat's funeral in Cairo. Turkey as a leadership and government has sent cables of condolences to the Palestinian Authority to express sadness as well as the Turkish people's grief over Arafat's deceasing.
Cable were from the Turkish President and Premier as well as the Parliament Speaker together with the Foreign Minister.
On the same subject, the Spanish government extended condolences to the Palestinian people over the death of Arafat. In a statement, Spain announced solidarity with the Palestinian people and the PA stressing adherence to the peace issue and stability in the region.
In Jeddah of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Conference Organization mourned the decease of the PA Chairman.
In a statement, the ICO appealed to the international community to stand by the Palestinian people and his leaders as to reach aims he has been struggling for.
The EU Higher Representative for CFSP Javier Solana expressed his deep sadness over Arafat's death.
In a statement, Solana said the best way to commemorate him was through intensifying efforts to establish the independent Palestinian state.
Russia in the meantime hoped the Israeli- Palestinian negotiations to be resumed as to reach a peace accord.
Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesman called the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to go back to the negotiations table and to work as to implement the Roadmap which aims at establishing the Palestinian Independent state.