Palestinians mourn 3 days for poet Darwish's death

Flags were lowered at West Bank government buildings yesterday, ushering in three days of official mourning for poet Mahmoud Darwish, who helped forge the Palestinians' national identity and gave a voice to their yearning for independence.

Darwish died on Saturday, at age 67, following heart surgery at a Houston hospital.

Themes of his poetry, the experience of exile and his concern over Palestinian infighting, were also reflected in his death.