Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Things do not seem to be going terribly well

Ramallah, Nov. 10 (AsiaNews) - Palestinian leaders plan to announce the death of Yasser Arafat today, the AsiaNews service is reporting.

Palestinian officials said that Arafat's death would be announced by leaders of the Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization-- both of which Arafat headed-- after meetings on Wednesday in Ramallah.

The condition of the 75-year-old Palestinian leader has been the subject of conflicting reports, amid rumors that Palestinian officials have been at odds with Arafat's wife, Suha Arafat. A delegation of top Palestinian officials returned home yesterday after visiting Arafat in a Paris hospital, where he was reportedly in a coma.

Islamic clerics were visiting Arafat's hospital room early on Wednesday, amid fresh rumors that Suha Arafat was preparing to disconnect life-support systems.

The timing of a death announcement could be critical because of the Muslim requirements for a speedy burial. Arafat had indicated that he wished to be buried in Jerusalem-- a prospect that the Israeli government rejects.

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