Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's health has deteriorated sharply at the Paris hospital where he is being treated for an unexplained illness.
He is in intensive care, but aides have issued conflicting reports about whether he has fallen into a coma.
An emergency meeting of top Palestinian officials is due to take place in the West Bank to discuss the crisis.
Mr Arafat, 75, was flown to a military hospital in Paris last week. He has led the Palestinians since the 1960s.
At his battered Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, officials stated publicly that Mr Arafat was "absolutely not in a coma".
But sources close to his entourage in Paris say he has become unconscious three times in the last two days, and he did not regain consciousness the third time.
Tests have shown that he 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.
"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).
French military doctors have refused to make any comment on Mr Arafat's condition.
'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, a 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.
Israeli security chiefs have discussed Mr Arafat's condition at their weekly security briefing.
Mr Arafat left his headquarters in besieged Ramallah last week after Israel said it would not prevent his return.
There is no clear line of succession should Mr Arafat be unable continue in power. He has not anointed a successor, although the parliamentary speaker would take over temporarily.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/3980903.stm
He is in intensive care, but aides have issued conflicting reports about whether he has fallen into a coma.
An emergency meeting of top Palestinian officials is due to take place in the West Bank to discuss the crisis.
Mr Arafat, 75, was flown to a military hospital in Paris last week. He has led the Palestinians since the 1960s.
At his battered Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, officials stated publicly that Mr Arafat was "absolutely not in a coma".
But sources close to his entourage in Paris say he has become unconscious three times in the last two days, and he did not regain consciousness the third time.
Tests have shown that he 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.
"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).
French military doctors have refused to make any comment on Mr Arafat's condition.
'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, a 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.
Israeli security chiefs have discussed Mr Arafat's condition at their weekly security briefing.
Mr Arafat left his headquarters in besieged Ramallah last week after Israel said it would not prevent his return.
There is no clear line of succession should Mr Arafat be unable continue in power. He has not anointed a successor, although the parliamentary speaker would take over temporarily.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/3980903.stm
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