Yasser Arafat is in critical condition between "life and death," Leila Shahid, the Palestinian envoy to Paris said on Friday morning. According to several reports from French and international media outlets, Yasser Arafat's condition is one of clinical death.
The envoy said the Palestinian president is in a "reversible coma" and not brain dead.
Shahid "categorically" denied reports in French and Israeli media that the 75-year-old Arafat is being kept alive on life support systems.
She suggested the coma occurred after Arafat was put under anesthesia to have medical tests, including an endoscopy and a biopsy of the spinal cord.
Later, a hospital spokesman said Arafat remained in stable condition. The Palestinian leader "has not gotten worse," said Christian Estripeau, head of communications for French military health services. (albawaba.com)
