Thousands of mourning Palestinians defied warning shots from security forces and surged forward to surround the helicopter carrying Yasser Arafat’s body when it landed in his West Bank compound today.

Yasser Arafat’s funeral service began with humble prayers today and ended with an almost triumphant procession, his wooden coffin set on a gun carriage and draped in the Palestinian flag, preceded by a military band in scarlet and followed by a crowd of presidents and kings.

Yasser Arafat’s wooden coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag, was carried into an Egyptian military mosque this morning, where prayers for the Palestinian leader began.

Palestinians need time to “build a new house” following the death of Yasser Arafat, and the key to a ceasefire with Palestinian militants is in Israel’s hands, said Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan in an interview published today.

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.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today urged Palestinians and Israelis to work with the international community to make Yasser Arafat’s dream of two states living in peace a reality.

When expectant Palestinian mother Safra Hassan went into labour this morning, she told her husband, Rafiq, she wanted to call the child Yasser, after Yasser Arafat.

The body of Yasser Arafat, revered as the champion of Palestinian statehood and reviled as an opportunistic terrorist, was flown to Egypt tonight as the Middle East attempted to move forward in the search for peace.

Mahmoud Abbas could hardly be more different from the man he seeks to replace. Unlike Yasser Arafat, he likes to work in the shadows, shuns publicity, listens to advisers and deplores violence.

Israel has ruled out releasing jailed Marwan Barghouti, a leading Palestinian figure who is widely seen as the strongest candidate to succeed Yasser Arafat.

Hundreds of Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli cars and burned tyres today as demonstrators in the West Bank vented their outrage over the death of Yasser Arafat.

The EU began to push forward Mideast peace efforts as soon as Yasser Arafat’s death was announced today.

In a message to Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Mary McAleese said Mr Arafat had always impressed her with his unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people and their future in the region.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation elected Mahmoud Abbas as its chief Thursday, virtually ensuring he will succeed Yasser Arafat as the next leader of the Palestinians, at least for an interim period.

A leader of a Palestinian militant group publicly accused Israel of killing Yasser Arafat.

Egypt is set to receive the body of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today and give him a military funeral a day later.

Statement by the Taoiseach on the death of Yasser Arafat:

There are reports that Yasser Arafat will be buried to tomorrow, Friday, in Ramallah and not on Saturday as previously reported.

Yasser Arafat fought for the Palestinian cause all his life – and his indomitable style of leadership over 35 years ensured he never lost control.

Top candidates to succeed Yasser Arafat as Palestinian leader:

Blaming Yasser Arafat for global terrorism and the failure to achieve Middle East peace, an Israeli Cabinet minister expressed hope today that a new Palestinian leadership would put down militant groups and negotiate with Israel.

US President George Bush’s statement on the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, as issued by the White House:

Reactions to the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat:

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said peace in the Middle East was the international community’s “highest priority” as he today expressed his condolences to the family of Yasser Arafat.

Thousands of weeping Palestinians rushed into Gaza’s streets today to mourn Yasser Arafat, clinging to flags, clutching his photograph and waving the trademark headscarf of the leader considered the national patriarch.

Israel sealed the West Bank and Gaza Strip and sent troop reinforcements to the areas today, in response to Yasser Arafat’s death, the military said.

The Palestinian parliament is to convene for an emergency session later today to swear in a new Palestinian Authority president, in place of Yasser Arafat, a parliament official said.

Yasser Arafat, who triumphantly forced his people’s plight into the world spotlight but failed to achieve his lifelong quest for Palestinian statehood, died today, aged 75, Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat confirmed.