Yasser Arafat's health takes dramatic turn for worse

PALESTINIAN president Yasser Arafat's health took a dramatic turn for the worse yesterday, as an ambulance rushed to his West Bank headquarters amid unconfirmed reports he had collapsed.

Israel Radio said Arafat had lost consciousness, but a senior Palestinian official said that was untrue.

Palestinian officials have repeatedly said Arafat is recovering from a bout of "stomach flu", but he has not appeared in public for days, fuelling speculation over the seriousness of his condition.

An ambulance brought three medics late last night to the battered compound in Ramallah, where he has been effectively pinned by Israeli forces for more than two-and-a-half years.

"His health has deteriorated and there are plans to move him to the hospital in Ramallah," one medical source said.

Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu-Rudeineh told reporters medical teams from Egypt and Jordan were expected in Ramallah today.

"The president needs more time to rest because of exhaustion," said Abu-Rudeineh.

Questions over the health of 75-year-old Arafat have added to fears of chaos in Palestinian territories since he has no obvious successor.

There are already signs of a breakdown of order amid a four-year-old uprising against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip.

Witnesses at Arafat's compound said Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and his predecessor, Mahmud Abbas, both veterans of the Palestinian struggle for a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, had gone inside.

Arafat underwent a minor diagnostic procedure on Monday after complaining of stomach pains.

Palestinian officials said then an endoscopy had found no serious ailment but the president remained weak.

Arafat had been ill over the past two weeks, suffering from what Palestinian officials said was a lengthy bout of the flu.

Israeli officials speculated he might have stomach cancer.

However two of Arafat's doctors said a blood test, combined with a biopsy of tissue taken from his digestive tract, showed he does not. Arafat has refused to groom a successor, for fear of nurturing a rival who could threaten his rule, and no clear challenger has emerged.

In the past two years, he has worn out Abbas and Qureia with political manoeuvres and has blocked their attempt to limit his powers.

Arafat continued to rest today and broke his Ramadan fast for a second straight day, aides said.