Concern grows over Arafat’s ailing health

SPECULATION mounted yesterday that Yasser Arafat is more seriously ill than the Palestinian leadership has admitted.

Israel gave the ailing 75-year-old permission to briefly leave his compound to receive medical treatment in the West Bank city of Ramallah, heightening concerns for the Palestinian leader.

But Palestinian officials said Mr Arafat was recovering from a lengthy bout of the flu, but was feeling better and would not accept the offer.