WASHINGTON — An emotional President Clinton praised slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Saturday as one of the world's "greatest men," calling him "a warrior for his nation's freedom and now a martyr for his nation's peace."

Choking back tears in a hastily called appearance in the White House Rose Garden, the President also voiced both sympathy and strong U.S. support for the people of Israel. "Just as America has stood by you in moments of crisis and triumph, so now we all stand by you in this moment of grieving and loss," he declared.

White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry indicated that Clinton will fly to Israel to attend Rabin's funeral, which is scheduled for Monday. The President signed a proclamation calling for flags to be flown at half-staff in this country in respect for Rabin and for the Middle East peace process.

Around the world, some of the other leaders who had worked closely with Rabin on peace in the Middle East voiced similar expressions of sorrow.

Most prominently, Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat said he was "sad and very shocked for this awful and terrible crime against one of the brave leaders of Israel and the peacemakers."

"I hope that they will have the ability, all of us, the Israelis and the Palestinians . . . to overcome this tragedy against the peace process, against the whole situation in the Middle East," Arafat said, adding that he was offering condolences to Rabin's family and to the Israelis. "And it's not only my condolences, it's the condolences of all the Palestinian people."

A statement issued by the office of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Rabin "a man who gave to the peace process his ample energies and thought for the sake of achieving security and peace for the people of Israel and of the region after wars and bloody struggle."

"Egypt condemns this criminal act . . . and asserts that achieving a just and comprehensive peace is a mission that only brave men can take upon themselves. Many principled men have fallen along the path toward achieving it, sacrificing their lives for the sake of their people."

That last sentence was an apparent reference to the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who, like Rabin, was assassinated by opponents of peace within his own country.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Karim Kabariti called the assassination "tragic and shocking" but emphasized that "the peace process must go on."