Thursday 04 November 2004, 19:59 Makka Time, 16:59 GMT
Arafat’s main adviser has said he is in a ‘critical condition’
Palestinianleader Yasir Arafat is in a critical and serious condition but not in acoma, according to his main adviser, NabilAbu Rudaina.
Frenchdoctors carrying out tests on the 75-year-old leader since he wasairlifted to a military hospital in Paris last Friday say they still donot know what is wrong with him, despite ruling out leukaemia.
Arafat’simmune system appeared quite weak as his health, which had at firststabilised after he arrived at the hospital, suddenly deteriorated onWednesday, they said.
OnThursday French President Jacques Chirac briefly visited Arafatat thePercy hospital in the south-western Paris suburb of Clamart, andoffered his wishes for a speedy recovery, officials said.
All eyes are on the Percy militaryhospital in Paris treating Arafat
Chirac”saw president Arafat and his wife (Suha) and expressed his wishes”,French government spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said on Thursday.
Arafat smiled at Chirac and held his hand, Palestinian sources said.
The French president also saw other Palestinian officials.
“He spoke with doctors who are doing everything possible for the Palestinian Authority president’s health,” Bonnafont said.
He added that Chirac left a short while later for a European Union meeting in Brussels.
Results ‘positive’
French medical sourcesearlier in the day said Arafat was in a coma and on life support, butthat was contradicted by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Quraya, whosaid in his West Bank headquarters in Ram Allah that that informationwas wrong.
French President Chirac visitedthe Palestinian leader in hospital
“He is not in a coma,” Quraya said.
“There have been examinations and results are positive,” he said without elaborating.
EarlierPalestinian sources said the 75 year-old has slipped intounconsciousness three times over the last 24 hours and could notconfirm if he had regained consciousness on the last occasion.
Arafat -for 40 years the symbol of the Palestinian struggle for statehood- wasadmitted to the Percy military hospital in the Paris suburb of Clamarton Friday after being dramatically evacuated from the West Bank. He issuffering from an unknown blood ailment.
More tests due
According to Palestinian envoy to Paris, Laila Shahid, more tests were being conducted. “Thereis a setback in [Arafat’s] health. The doctors are carrying out teststo try to explain why this happened,” shesaid.
Aides said the Palestinian leader could remain in hospital for several more weeks.
“President Arafat voiced the hope thatGeorgeBush’snew mandate and the confidence placed in him by the Americanpeople will give new momentum to the Middle East peace process”
Muhammad Rashid,aide to Yasir Arafat
“Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback,” Shahid said.
Arafat was flown to Paris from his West Bankheadquarters last week for tests and treatment for a serious blooddisorder which has yet to be identified,after sufferingsevere stomachpains, diarrhoea and vomiting.
French doctors have ruled out cancer and leukaemia as well as poisoning.
The president of the Palestinian Authority is being treated at the blood unit of the Percy military hospital in the southwestern Paris suburb of Clamart.
Up and downs
Arafat was well enough on Wednesday towelcome US President GeorgeBush’s re-election, saying he hoped itwould help jumpstart the Middle East peace process, one of his aidessaid.
“President Arafat welcomed Bush’svictory and voiced the hope that his new mandate and the confidenceplaced in him by the American people will give new momentum to theMiddle East peace process,” Muhammad Rashid said.
Rashid said the Palestinian leader’s health had experienced “a certain deterioration, and sometimes it improves”.