Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died early on Thursday at a French military hospital outside Paris, Palestinian presidential secretary Tayeb Abdelrahim announced at the Muqataa headquarters. (Photo: Xinhua)

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died early on Thursday at a French military hospital outside Paris, Palestinian presidential secretary Tayeb Abdelrahim announced at the Muqataa headquarters.

    Meanwhile, both Arafat's senior aide Tayeb Abdelrahim and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat have confirmed the death of the Palestinian leader.

    French military hospital Percy where Arafat had been under medical treatment said the Palestinian leader died in intensive care at 3:30 a.m. (0230GMT).

    Former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and Parliament Speaker Rawhi Fattuh visited Arafat in the French military hospital on Monday.

    Arafat, 75, had suffered from a variety of digestive tract ailments since he had been confined to his Ramallah headquarters by the Israeli army. He was transferred to the French military hospital on Oct. 29. Enditem