(4 Nov 2004) SHOTLIST
1. Press conference
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
Reporter: It appears that Yasser Arafat has passed away.
"Really."
Reporter: I just want to get your initial reaction and also your thoughts on working with a new generation of Palestinian leadership.
"I appreciate that. My first reaction is God bless his soul. And my second reaction is that we will continue to work for a free Palestinian state that is at peace with Israel."
3. Bush gestures to reporters for the next question as the camera zooms out
STORYLINE
There were conflicting reports on Thursday regarding the fragile health of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Israeli TV's Channel Two cited Israeli security officials as saying they had been told by a reliable French source that Arafat had died.
However, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said there had been no change in Arafat's condition.
And a military spokesman from the hospital where Arafat was being treated said the Palestinian leader was "not dead".
Luxembourg's prime minister earlier told reporters that Arafat had passed away.
He made the statement as he arrived in Brussels for a summit of European leaders.
Soon afterwards, a spokesman for Luxembourg's government retracted the prime minister's statement.
When informed of reports that Arafat had died, not long after the Luxembourg prime minister's comments, US President George Bush reacted by telling reporters: "God bless his soul."
Bush vowed to continue working "for a free Palestinian state that is at peace with Israel".
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