Arafat's brother dies in Egypt

2004-12-03 15:57

Cairo, Egypt - Fathi Arafat, founder of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and brother of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, was buried in Egypt after a funeral on Friday.

Mourners led by Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Mohammed Sobeih prayed beside the 67-year-old Fathi Arafat's coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag, at Cairo's Armed Forces mosque after Friday prayers.

Fathi Arafat died on Wednesday at Cairo's Palestine Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for stomach cancer.

Fathi Arafat quit his position as chairman of the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Muslim version of the Red Cross, three years ago, but continued to serve as honorary chairman. He was also a senior member of Fatah, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's main political movement.

Fathi Arafat is survived by his wife, Nadia, daughter, Amani and son, Tarek. He is also survived by a brother, Mohsen, and sisters Khadija, Mervat and Madiha.

Yasser Arafat, 75, died on 11 November in Paris and was buried at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah after a funeral in Cairo that drew scores of world leaders.

- AP