Cuba and Brazil have remembered Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat with praise and have restated their support for his dream of a Palestinian state.
Cuban President Fidel Castro Thursday declared three days of official mourning for Mr. Arafat, saying the pain of the Palestinian leader's loss was Cuba's pain.
In a commentary, Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma, called Mr. Arafat one of the "firmest, most prestigious and tireless fighters for the Arab cause." It called his life a struggle for liberation, the defense of his people's rights, and a sovereign and independent Palestine.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called Mr. Arafat a historic leader and sent his condolences. He called for peace in the Middle East and a free and sovereign Palestinian state.
Some information provided by AFP and AP.