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Arafat buried at his headquarters in Ramallah
13/11/2004 23:47

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 A helicopter carrying Arafat's coffin from Cairo lands at Ramallah compound, Nov. 12. At least 5,000 Palestinians have burst into the compound to await the return of their beloved leader's body.(Xinhua Photo)

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At least 5,000 Palestinians stormed into the compound, waiting for the arrival of Arafat's coffin from Cairo where a military funeral was held for the Palestinian leader earlier in the day. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

 

Late veteran Palestinian Yasser Arafat was laid to rest Friday at the Muqata, his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where he had been virtually confined by Israeli forces for nearly three years.

Arafat's body was laid to rest in a marble-and-stone grave. Muslim clerics read Koranic verses and prayed by his gravesite. A Muslim cleric poured soil over the casket.

Arafat was buried ahead of the scheduled time due to chaos erupted at the compound in Ramallah as thousands of emotional mourners waved against the security forces, who wildly fired into the air to disperse the crowd.

At least four people were wounded in the chaos, according to medical sources. Sirens swirled above the sorrow-clouded crowd.

Arafat's coffin was flown back to his battered compound in Ramallah at 2:15 p.m. (1215 GMT) Friday.

At least 5,000 Palestinians have burst into the compound to await the return of their beloved leader's body.

Emotions run wild when two helicopters, with one carrying the body of Arafat, landed at the compound, stirring thick dust and sand.

Hundreds of people then encircled the two helicopters. Securityguards fired into the air, trying to keep the situation under control. Human walls were formed to ward off the emotional crowd.

After a 25-minute standoff, Arafat's coffin was carried out of the helicopter onto a car.

The crowd then pushed their way to touch the coffin.

"With blood and soul, we will redeem you, Arafat," the mournersshouted.

Barred by Israel to attend the funeral of Arafat in Ramallah, thousands of Palestinian mourners took to the streets of the Gaza City and held a symbolic funeral for the late Palestinian leader.

A symbolic coffin wrapped with a Palestinian flag was carried on the shoulders of eight militants from al O'mari Mosque in Gaza to the city downtown, while militants and representatives of various political factions marched towards Arafat's headquarters in the coastal city.

The mourners waved Palestinian flags and held Arafat's pictures,while Palestinian militants fired gunshots to the sky.

Arafat, 75, passed away at 3:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) Thursday at a French military hospital outside Paris after failing a battle for life for two weeks.

His death was shrouded in almost as much mystery and speculation as his life. So far it was still not clear what causeda sudden deterioration of his health.

The Palestinian National Authority declared a 40-day mourning period.

On Friday morning, Arab and world leaders and representatives from more than 50 countries attended Arafat's funeral held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, bidding farewell to the late Palestinian leader.

Arafat, an icon of the Palestinian cause for four decades, was seen as the great survivor of the international politics and the man who characterized modern Palestinian history and aspirations.



 Xinhua