Palestinian Reactions to the Death of Abu Al-Abbas -- "The Great National Leader"
The Middle East Media Research Institute
March 26, 2004----
Citations in Link----
Following the death of Palestine Liberation Front secretary-general Muhammad Abbas (Abu Al-Abbas) in a U.S. prison in Baghdad where he was being held, the Palestinian media featured tributes to him, depicting him as a "great national fighter." Some of these tributes, particularly those by PLF members, accused the Americans of killing him, and expressed their desire for revenge, including one call for the assassination of President Bush.
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Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat mourned Abu Al-Abbas in an announcement by him and the Palestinian leadership: "The Palestinian leadership bids farewell to a unique fighter; a national leader who devoted his life to serving his people and his homeland." The Palestinian media also reported that Arafat received condolences on Abu Al-Abbas's death in his presidential office in Ramallah.
A communiqué issued by the Fatah movement read: "Fatah announces the death of the great national leader, the Shahid
Muhammad Abbas – Abu Al-Abbas – the Palestine Liberation Front secretary-general who died a martyr in an American prison in Baghdad under unclear circumstances. Fatah calls for an urgent investigation under international supervision, particularly since Abu Al-Abbas was being held in dangerous and inhumane conditions that directly harmed his life…
Death notices were published by several top Palestinian officials, among them Rashid Abu Shbak who heads the Preventive Security Apparatus in Gaza. Shbak expressed his deep sorrow "on the death of he great national fighter."
PA Information Ministry Director-General Sa'ad Tawfiq Bsisso demanded that an international committee be established to investigate the circumstances of Abu Al-Abbas's death.
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