France - Mideast Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, the man who embodied his people's struggle for independence for decades, died at the age of 75, plunging Palestinians into mourning but giving a glimmer of hope to Middle East peace. France sent Arafat on his final journey home, ceremoniously loading his body onto a flight to Cairo and ultimately burial at his West Bank headquarters. World leaders voiced hope that Arafat's death would give fresh impetus to the moribund Middle East peace process, but were divided over the Palestinian leader's legacy amid fears of violence in the days ahead. US The United States expressed hope for an independent and democratic Palestinian country, calling Arafat's death an important event in Middle East history. Israel Israel expressed hope that the death of Arafat, who was seen in the Jewish state as the main obstacle to peace, could open a new chapter in relations with the Palestinians. West Bank The Palestinian leadership divided up the spoils of Arafat's power, as parliament speaker Rawhi Fattuh was sworn in as acting head of the Palestinian Authority and ex-premier Mahmud Abbas became the new PLO supremo. Mideast Militants vowed to avenge what they called Israel's "murder" of Arafat as four Palestinians were killed during a major Israeli security clampdown on the occupied territories. Final preparations were under way at Arafat's battered West Bank headquarters for his burial in soil brought specially from his beloved Jerusalem. Iraq At least nine people plus the bomber died, many burnt alive, when a car bomb exploded in a Baghdad traffic jam as attacks across Sunni areas of central and northern Iraq wounded more than 80. Iraq The US military said it attacked suspected rebel targets in Mosul with air and ground fire after an upsurge in violence in the northern city. US US military officials said hundreds of insurgents have been killed in the three-day-old battle for Fallujah while weaker-than-expected resistance has raised questions about what happened to a rebel force estimated at more than 2,000 fighters. India Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a troop reduction in disputed Kashmir this winter, a move welcomed by regional rival Pakistan as a boost to peace efforts.