Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday expressed "our deepest grief" over the demise of Yasser Arafat, and urged sponsors of Middle East peace roadmap to remain committed to the plan.

A spokesperson for Abdullah said the premier would attend a funeral service for the late Palestinian leader in Cairo today.

"That Arafat's death is a great loss to the Palestinians and the cause of Palestine would be an understatement," said Abdullah, who chairs the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement of developing states.

"The death of Yasser Arafat marks not only the departure of a great leader but also a turning point in the history of the Middle East," he said in a statement.

Arafat's name "had been synonymous with the struggle for Palestine," and he would be remembered by Palestinians and people all over the world for "his courage and determination against all odds in championing and protecting the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine."

'Remain calm and united'

Abdullah urged Palestinians to "remain calm and united during this difficult period," and pledged "strong support to the Palestinians in their struggle".

"The memory of Yasser Arafat should serve to motivate all Palestinians to display solidarity to secure, without delay, an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem as its capital."

"We call upon the members of the Quartet to closely monitor the situation in Palestine, restrain Israel from exploiting the present circumstances and take urgent measures to implement the Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East," Abdullah said.

The United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia make up the Quartet - sponsors of the "roadmap" which aims to create a Palestinian state by 2005.