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Abbas wants Arafat to be reburied in Jerusalem

By Xinhua

Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that late leader Yasser Arafat, who died in a Paris hospital of a mysterious disease three years ago, will be reburied in Jerusalem.

Abbas made the claim in a short speech while inaugurating a new tomb for Arafat’s grave at the yard of al-Muqata’a, the president’s headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Abbas also pledged that he would follow the steps of the late leader in achieving the aspirations of the Palestinians.

“I will keep following Arafat’s steps and oaths. I will continue in this process until our late leader gets reburied in Jerusalem, the city that he had always loved,” the Palestinian president told the officials and diplomats gathered here.

On Sunday, a big rally will be staged at al-Muqata’a square Ramallah, where Palestinians will commemorate the third anniversary of Arafat’s death.

Palestinian officials at Abbas’ headquarters said a special exhibition would be inaugurated on Sunday, which would include the personal belongings of the late leader.

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum announced that Hamas would participate in the Monday rally to commemorate the moment.

Arafat, a champion of the Palestinian cause, died on Nov 11, 2004 at a French military hospital and was later buried on the grounds of his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah.