France says Arafat's death should mark birth of Palestinian state

France stressed that the Middle East peace process has to be pushed forward in a way to establish a viable Palestinian state and make late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's dream come true.

The first French reaction after the demise of Arafat carne from President Jacques Chirac who hailed Arafat and described him as a brave leader in his life who clung to beliefs in order for the Palestinians to obtain their national rights.

Chirac called on the Palestinians to unify ranks and express loyalty to the memory of their leader so that his death would become the spark far the birth of a Palestinian state. The international community should push for implementation of the roadmap plan approved by the Palestinian leader, he added.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said that admitting the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for treatment in a French military hospital reflected time-honoured ties between Paris and the Palestinian people.