Arafat's death: Snapshot

NEWS:

* Arafat's death is announced in Paris

* Plane carrying Arafat's coffin takes off from French military airfield for Cairo for funeral

* Thousands of Palestinians mourn Arafat on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza; world leaders send condolences

* Former prime minister Abbas is elected as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation

* Parliament speaker Fattouh is named interim Palestinian president

* Israel seals off West Bank and Gaza Strip to prevent violence. Militant group Hamas vows to keep up attacks

* Israeli soldiers kill four Palestinians. Three killed, at least two gunmen, in fighting that erupted when militants from Fatah attacked a Jewish settlement in central Gaza. Another was killed in stonethrowing clashes in the West Bank.

* Foreign Minister Shaath says Palestinians want to resume talks with Israel on stalled "road map" for peace

QUOTES:

* US President Bush: "The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinians' history. We hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfilment of the aspirations for an independent democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbours."

* Israeli Prime Minister Sharon: "The latest events are likely to present a historic turning point in the Middle East ... (progress towards peace) "depends first and foremost on a cessation of terrorism and if they (the Palestinian leaders) wage a war on terror"

* Kaddoumi: "Resistance is the path to arriving at a political settlement

COMING EVENTS:

* Preparations under way for funeral in Cairo on Friday.

* Arafat's body expected to arrive in Cairo 2100 GMT.

* Burial in Ramallah on Saturday. Arafat to be buried in concrete coffin that could be moved to Jerusalem.

- REUTERS