Representatives of Palestinian political powers and factions held a meeting Wednesday at Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters in the Gaza City to discuss the situation after his death, Palestinian sources who attended the meeting reported.
They said it has been overwhelmingly agreed to call for self- control among the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip once Arafat's death is declared.
They added the factions also agreed not to allow burning tires in the main streets, or closing and blocking streets by rocks as well as attacking stores and public properties.
The representatives of the factions and powers said firing in the air is forbidden, calling on the residents to deal with the situation in a spirit of responsibility.
The sources said a mourning tent to receive officials who want to pay condolences will be erected at Arafat's battered headquarters al Muqata in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where Arafat had been confined by Israel for nearly three years.
Representatives of 13 Palestinian powers and factions, including Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as the left-wing parties attended the meeting.
The Palestinian leadership accepted Wednesday a proposal presented by Egypt and the Arab League (AL) to make an official funeral for Arafat and bury him in the West Bank town of Ramallah in case of his death, Palestinian sources reported.
The decision came during a joint meeting of Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee and Fatah Central Committee held in Ramallah and chaired by Mahmoud Abbas.
It has not been known yet when the Palestinian leadership would officially declare the death of Arafat, who is still in a deep coma at the Percy Military Hospital outside Paris in France.
Egypt had proposed that in the event of Arafat's death is declared, an official funeral would be arranged at the Cairo airport, which will be attended by Arab leaders and kings, and then his body would be airlifted to Ramallah by a helicopter.
Palestinian officials announced that all the preparations for burying Arafat at al Muqata have been finalized.
Israel had accepted in principle a Palestinian request to bury Arafat in Ramallah. Earlier, Israel opposed burying him in Jerusalem or in the West Bank, saying that he can only be buried in Gaza.