PM Qureia: Arafat is still alive

GAZA, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia denied on Thursday night that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is in clinical death.

Arafat has been treated in Percy Hospital outside Paris in France since Friday after he suffered from a serious illness.

Three different Palestinian sources in Ramallah and in France denied reports made by Israeli Television Channel 2 that Arafat is in clinical death, but said that he is in critical conditions.

The sources included Arafat's nephew Nasser el Qedwa, the Palestinian representatives at the United Nations, as well as former minister of interior security Mohamed Dahlan.

However, Palestinian officials, including Arafat's top aide Nabil Abu Rudeineh denied that Arafat is in clinical death, and said Arafat is alive but he is in coma and has his health deteriorated on Thursday evening.

French doctors are expected to declare their medical report on the health conditions of Arafat.

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