Mexican authorities expressed remorse Thursday at the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died earlier in the day at a French hospital.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations released a statement saying it recognized Arafat's "untiring" efforts to create a Palestinian state and called for peaceful dialogue in the future with Israel in hopes of ending the four-year conflict that has left almost 4,000 Palestinians dead and killed an estimated 1,000 Israelis.
The ministry also said President Vicente Fox would send a personal message to Arafat's family conveying his sympathies following their loss.
The Palestinian leader was transferred to a hospital just outside of Paris late last week for numerous maladies and spent the last few days in a coma before finally succumbing early Thursday.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
