YASSER ARAFAT’S wife yesterday accused his top lieutenants of seeking to grab control from her ailing husband, nearly torpedoing a visit by top Palestinian officials in the first sign of an open power struggle.

Senior Palestinian leaders including Ahmed Qureia and Mahmoud Abbas arrived in France tonight in a bid to check on the medical status of Yasser Arafat.

Palestinian leaders flew to France tonight to confront Yasser Arafat’s wife who accused his top lieutenants of seeking to grab control from her ailing husband.

The caretaker Palestinian leadership decided today to travel to Yasser Arafat’s bedside, reversing a decision to call off the trip after being lambasted by the ailing 75-year-old leader’s wife.