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AROUND THE WORLD 3: Palestinian President Very Sick

Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat was reported to be critically sick on Thursday. Apparently, three senior Palestinian officials have formed a committee to oversee while he recovers.

There have been many conflicting reports about his condition. One Palestinian cabinet minister said, “President Arafat is dying.” He is “very, very sick," one Palestinian official reported.

However, other officials have said that he needs nothing more than a little rest and he has simply caught a flu bug.

Arafat, 75, hasn’t yet picked someone to succeed him as president because he fears that his successor might rival him while he’s still ruling. Two members of the committee have been suggested to possibly succeed Arafat. But there’s no one with as much popularity as Arafat in line to be president.

It’s not clear what type of illness is plaguing Arafat. Palestinian officials have been claiming for the past two weeks that he has been suffering from the flu. On Monday, he had a doctor check him because he was complaining of stomach pains.

While eating soup in a meeting on Wednesday, he became violently ill and was immediately rushed to a clinic, where he fell down and became unconscious for about 10 minutes. Doctors are reportedly trying to save his life. His own personal doctor is on his way there, as is his wife.

The Israeli government has kept Arafat confined in his compound in Ramallah for more than two years. The Israelis have been gracious enough to allow Arafat to leave the compound for medical treatment.

--Written by Christopher Gooch

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