Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

The Most Revd Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales, today paid tribute to Palestinian Authority President, Yasser Arafat following his death earlier this morning.

Commenting today, the Archbishop said:

"Yasser Arafat has given his life to the cause of the Palestinian people and will be remembered for his perseverance and resolve in the face of so many challenges and set-backs.

"When I heard the news of his death this morning, my initial reaction was to pray that in death Yasser Arafat will find that peace which only God can give and which was denied him in life.

"I pray also that his death will not lead to bloodshed and conflict within the Palestinian community, or confrontation with the forces of the Israeli state. I call on the Israeli state to do all it can to avoid inflaming an already tense situation and condemn its deliberately provocative act today in sending armed police officers into St George's Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem to arrest Mordechai Vanunu who has enjoyed sanctuary there since his release from prison in April of this year following 18 years of incarceration."