Leukaemia doctors examine Arafat

Physicians specialising in the treatment of leukaemia were examining ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat today to determine whether he suffers from the blood disorder, Palestinian sources said.

Arafat, 75, has been sick for the past two weeks and blood tests have shown he has a low platelet count – a possible symptom of leukaemia, other cancers or a number of other maladies.