Emotions high ahead of Arafat's funeral
Intense emotions of both sorrow and defiance continue across the Middle East today, the day Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is honoured by international dignitaries with a military funeral in Egypt.
Arafat, who died early yesterday in Paris, was mourned at home and across the region in refugee camps by Palestinians who had hoped he would one day lead them back to Jerusalem, and by Arabs who had seen him as an inspiring leader.
His funeral, to be held at a military club mosque today, was to be a strictly controlled event, attended by Arab and other international dignitaries.
The public are to be kept away, nearby streets are to be shut down and a large contingent of police and security are expected to be guarding the vicinity.
A plane carrying Arafat’s coffin arrived late yesterday at Cairo airport from a Paris military base. A military honour guard carried the coffin, walking in formation from the plane to a hearse.
Around the airport, police guards were increased and observers were stationed on tall buildings to ensure security.
Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, hugged Arafat’s widow, Suha, after she alighted. The head of Mubarak’s office and Egypt’s foreign minister stood alongside Mrs Mubarak.
Arafat’s coffin was then taken to the nearby Galaa Club, a compound that includes a hospital, mosque and social club for military officers. It was to be held overnight in the hospital.
Arafat’s 25-minute funeral reflects Egypt’s concern for security at an event that will draw dozens of statesmen and foreign ministers.
The funeral is scheduled to start at 11am local time (9am Irish time) today, with special prayers for the dead to be led by Egypt’s top Muslim cleric, the Grand Sheik of Al-Azhar Mohammed Sayed Tantawi.
After the funeral, Arafat’s coffin is expected to be taken to the Almaza military base just behind the club. That short drive, by horse-drawn carriage, is probably to be the public’s only opportunity to see Arafat’s coffin pass.
From the base, the coffin is to be flown to el-Arish, in Egypt’s northeastern Sinai Peninsula, according to Palestinian co-ordinator Hani Jebour.
He said two Jordanian helicopters would then ferry the coffin and it accompanying delegation to Ramallah in the West Bank.
Arafat is to be buried before sunset.
Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan – and even North Korea – were among the countries that declared three days of mourning for Arafat’s death.
The heads of state expected to attend the funeral include those of Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, South Africa and Yemen.
Numerous foreign ministers, including Dermot Ahern, have said they will attend, as has EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Assistant Secretary of State William Burns will represent the United States.
