Death of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat-President Michel sends message of condolence |12 November 2004

President Michel's message reads:
"It is with deep sorrow that we learned of the passing away of Mr Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority.

"For decades President Arafat was the embodiment of the Palestinian people's struggle for statehood and has been insistent in putting the Palestinians' cause at the forefront of global world conscience.

"President Arafat, courageous in his pursuit for freedom, justice and equality will be sadly missed.

"In this moment of grief and national mourning, the government and the people of Seychelles join me in expressing our heartfelt sympathies and deepest condolences to you, the Palestinian people, as well as to the family of the late President Arafat."

President Arafat, 75, died in a French military hospital outside Paris in the early hours of yesterday, after being flown there from his Ramallah headquarters nearly two weeks ago. He had been in a coma since November 3.

It is to be recalled that Mr Arafat made a special two-hour stop in Seychelles in August 1984 on his way to Mozambique from Zimbabwe as part of an African tour in preparation for a planned Afro-Arab summit.