Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat (R) cries during a press conference with Tayeb Abdelrahim, the head of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's office, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Nov. 9, 2004. Abdelrahim announced that Arafat is now under cerebral hemorrhage, and he also said that Arafat would be buried at his West Bank headquarters in the event of his death. (Xinhua photo)

A senior Palestinian official said Tuesday that if Arafat dies,all arrangements of funeral, burial, mourning and condolences would take place at al Muqataa, Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Tayeb Abdel Rahim, Arafat's office chief, said at a news conference that if Allah's (God) will and fate happens, in other words if Arafat dies, "all the arrangements would take place here at al Muqataa."

"Al Muqataa is a symbol of the Palestinian steadfastness and the siege has been imposed (by Israel) on President Arafat," said Abdel Rahim.

He said the Palestinian leaders in Ramallah were making contact with officials in France, adding that the Palestinian leadership would convene throughout Tuesday night in Ramallah to evaluate the situation.

He also called for patience and self-control among Palestinian people and called upon them to pray and fast for Arafat "at this critical situation".

However, Shaath refused to discuss the issue during his press conference in Paris. "To us it is indecent to discuss someone's burial when he is very much alive and we pray for his recovery," he said.

The Palestinian delegation is soon to leave Paris for Ramallah."We are leaving immediately for Ramallah via Amman. We leave Paris with a heavy heart because our president is ill," said Shaath, adding that there was no plan to bring back Arafat to Ramallah as long as he remains under treatment.