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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Palestinian radical founder dies | Palestinian radical founder dies |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The founder of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), George Habash, has died in Jordan, associates say. | The founder of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), George Habash, has died in Jordan, associates say. |
| Habash died of a heart attack, one of his former colleagues said. He was around 80 years old. | Habash died of a heart attack, one of his former colleagues said. He was around 80 years old. |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called three days of national mourning. | |
| Under Habash's leadership the PFLP became known as one of the most radical Palestinian militant groups, notorious for plane hijackings. | |
| In September 1970 it captured four airliners, later blowing them up in front of the world's cameras, once the passengers had been removed. | In September 1970 it captured four airliners, later blowing them up in front of the world's cameras, once the passengers had been removed. |
| The group also fired at Israeli aircraft and their crew, carried out bombings, and took hostages including, on one occasion, Opec leaders meeting in Vienna. | The group also fired at Israeli aircraft and their crew, carried out bombings, and took hostages including, on one occasion, Opec leaders meeting in Vienna. |
| 'Historic leader' | 'Historic leader' |
| George Habash was born in Lydda, in British-ruled Palestine - which is now Lod in Israel - and was forced to flee when war broke out in 1948. | George Habash was born in Lydda, in British-ruled Palestine - which is now Lod in Israel - and was forced to flee when war broke out in 1948. |
| He was a Christian, and became a medical student, who espoused the cause of secular Arab nationalism. | He was a Christian, and became a medical student, who espoused the cause of secular Arab nationalism. |
| PFLP ATTACKS 1968 Hijacks Israeli plane in first major operation1970 Hijacks four Western airliners; blows them up after passengers removed1970 Swissair flight SR330 bombed in mid-flight; 47 dead1972 Japanese leftists carry out massacre at Lod Airport, Tel Aviv, for PFLP; 26 dead1975 Carlos the Jackal leads PFLP hijacking of Opec meeting in Vienna; hostages flown round Middle East1976 Air France flight from Tel Aviv hijacked and diverted to Entebbe, Uganda; Israeli paratroopers mount raid, freeing most hostages2001 Israeli Minister for Tourism Rehavam Zeevi assassinated href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7211505.stm">Obituary: Geroge Habash class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/1604540.stm">PFLP profile | |
| He was a founding member, in 1951, of the Arab Nationalist Movement, which later merged with other groups to become the PFLP. | He was a founding member, in 1951, of the Arab Nationalist Movement, which later merged with other groups to become the PFLP. |
| The group designated itself a Marxist-Leninist movement and became the second largest partner in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. | The group designated itself a Marxist-Leninist movement and became the second largest partner in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. |
| It carried out more and more audacious attacks in the 1960s, throwing the Palestinian issue into the international spotlight. | It carried out more and more audacious attacks in the 1960s, throwing the Palestinian issue into the international spotlight. |
| It opposed Arab-Israeli peace negotiations and any talk of a two-state solution - Habash often criticised PLO leader Yasser Arafat for negotiating with Israel. | It opposed Arab-Israeli peace negotiations and any talk of a two-state solution - Habash often criticised PLO leader Yasser Arafat for negotiating with Israel. |
| Throughout his life Habash supported the use of violence against Israel. | Throughout his life Habash supported the use of violence against Israel. |
| One of the most deadly PFLP attacks was the gunning down of 27 people at Israel's Lod airport in May 1972. | One of the most deadly PFLP attacks was the gunning down of 27 people at Israel's Lod airport in May 1972. |
| Forty-seven people were killed when a Swissair jet was bombed in 1970. | Forty-seven people were killed when a Swissair jet was bombed in 1970. |
| Israeli tried for years to capture Habash, even intercepting a commercial airliner in 1973 and forcing it to land, mistakenly believing he was on board. | Israeli tried for years to capture Habash, even intercepting a commercial airliner in 1973 and forcing it to land, mistakenly believing he was on board. |
| Habash stepped down as leader of the PFLP in 2000, by which time the group had been marginalised by the growing power of Islamist movements like Hamas. | Habash stepped down as leader of the PFLP in 2000, by which time the group had been marginalised by the growing power of Islamist movements like Hamas. |
| Mr Abbas called Habash a "historic leader" and ordered Palestinian flags to fly at half-mast. | Mr Abbas called Habash a "historic leader" and ordered Palestinian flags to fly at half-mast. |
| The current deputy secretary-general of the PFLP, Abdel Raheem Mallouh, called Habash a "distinguished leader... who struggled for more than 60 years without a stop for the rights and the interests of his people". | The current deputy secretary-general of the PFLP, Abdel Raheem Mallouh, called Habash a "distinguished leader... who struggled for more than 60 years without a stop for the rights and the interests of his people". |
| He was married, with two daughters. | He was married, with two daughters. |
| His wife, Hilda, said: "We will all carry the banner of Habash and the Arab nation he dearly cherished. Habash always believed Palestine would be liberated." | His wife, Hilda, said: "We will all carry the banner of Habash and the Arab nation he dearly cherished. Habash always believed Palestine would be liberated." |
| "He lived for his people and died for his people," she told Reuters. | "He lived for his people and died for his people," she told Reuters. |