The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday inaugurated a mausoleum built over Yasser Arafat's grave and vowed to press on with his iconic predecessor's drive for a Palestinian state. Abbas, who is preparing for a U.S.-hosted peace conference with Israel, said he hoped Arafat's wish to be buried in Jerusalem would be realized along with the Palestinians' dream of making the Arab East of the city their capital. "We will continue on the path to set up the independent Palestinian state with (Jerusalem) as its capital, God willing," Abbas said at an unveiling ceremony in the occupied West Bank. Arafat founded the secular Fatah movement in the 1960s, leading the Arab fight against Israel before signing an interim peace deal in 1993. That agreement broke down in botched talks over a final accord.