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Arafat in coma at Paris hospital

BBC

Palestinians are nervously waiting for news from Paris
Palestinian officials say Yasser Arafat is in a coma at the intensive care unit of the Paris hospital where he is being treated for an unexplained illness.
Officials say his condition worsened significantly in the last 24 hours and a delegation from the West Bank postponed a trip to see him.

The 75-year-old Mr Arafat has lost consciousness several times in recent hours and suffered bouts of vomiting.

The veteran leader was flown to a military hospital in Paris last week.

"President Arafat lost consciousness three times... The first two times he recovered consciousness, but the third time we do not know at this moment," said a source quoted by AFP.

Tests have already revealed that the veteran leader has a low count of blood platelets, which are needed for clotting, but doctors are unsure of what is causing the condition.

'Called to Paris'

On Wednesday, Palestinian envoy Leila Shahid told the BBC that Mr Arafat's health had suffered a setback, but gave no further details.


Arafat seemed frail as he left the West Bank last week
"Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback," Ms Shahid told Reuters news agency.

"Tomorrow [Thursday], the doctors will give a very clear and direct explanation and report on what is happening," she said.

Ms Shahid said she would give more details of Mr Arafat's condition at a news conference in Paris on Thursday afternoon at 1600 local time (1500 GMT).

'No leukaemia'

Mr Arafat was flown to the French capital last Friday with a mystery illness from his headquarters in Ramallah.

At the time, he was said to have collapsed after suffering from what was first described as severe gastric flu.

Doctors say they have found no trace of leukaemia or any other cancer. They have been checking for a viral infection.

Earlier, another senior aide relayed Mr Arafat's congratulations to US President George W Bush on his re-election.

"He hopes that Bush's second term will be an important opportunity for Bush to secure the requirements for peace in the Middle East and to guarantee the just national rights of the Palestinian people," said Mohammad Rashid.