Yasser Arafat is in a “reversible coma” but not brain dead, his spokeswoman said today amid reports about the 75-year-old Palestinian leader’s condition.

Yasser Arafat has lapsed into a coma, a senior Palestinian official said today after the ailing leader was rushed into intensive care at a French military hospital following a sharp deterioration in his health.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is in intensive care undergoing a new round of tests today after his still-unexplained condition took a sudden turn for the worse.

Yasser Arafat’s health has deteriorated significantly, Palestinian officials said tonight.

Tests on Yasser Arafat showed problems with his digestion, but the Palestinian leader has recovered sufficiently to undergo further examinations that could not be performed when he was first rushed to France, an aide said.

An aide to Yasser Arafat today ruled out leukaemia as a cause for the deterioration in the Palestinian leader’s health, and said his condition was improving.

Initial tests show that ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Paris for urgent treatment of a mysterious illness, does not have leukaemia, a Palestinian diplomat said today.