Yasser Arafat dies at the age of 75

[ConceptualMind]

Yasser Arafat 1929-2004

CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- The plane carrying the body of Yasser Arafat arrived in Egypt Thursday, just hours after the Palestinian leader died of a lengthy and unknown illness at a Paris hospital.

The body was flown from a French military air base to Cairo for Friday's state funeral.

One of the first people off the plane was Arafat's widow, Suha Tawil, who was dressed in all black and made her way slowly down a red carpet accompanied by other relatives. She wept as her late husband's body was brought off the plane and a military band played a solemn tune.

Eight soldiers marched slowly carrying Arafat's coffin, draped in a Palestinian flag, to a nearby hearse, while three other soldiers bearing swords led the group.

News of the Cairo memorial service prompted national leaders and representatives from around the world to travel to Egypt.

The 75-year-old Arafat had spent his life seeking a homeland for his people but was seen by Israelis as a terrorist and roadblock to peace.

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Source: CNN

[scrowler]

hadn't he been ruling for 40 years or so?

[ConceptualMind]

I'm not positive about the exact number, but I do know he ruled for quite some time.

[Order]

He never really had land to rule, he is treated as a state head, but I do not think he actually ever held any land. I could be wrong, I am not all the knowledgable about middle east conflicts.

[Bleekster]

It's kinda sad when you think about the people who looked to him as a leader.....Hopefully it resolves all the chaos that is going on over there......

[Man1c M0g]

I know very little about middle eastern politics (its so mind-numbingly brain-death-inducing that I never give it any of my thoughts), but maybe a total change of leadership is what's needed to jumpstart the stalled peace process over there? Hell, anything that stops themselves blowing each other up would be nice! :P