Hospital: Arafat´s condition "stable"

cctv.com 11-06-2004 09:29

Doctors at the Paris military hospital, where Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat continues to fight for his life, have confirmed that his condition remains stable. Amid conflicting reports, officials deny that the 75-year-old is either brain dead or in a coma.

On Friday, Christian Estripeau, spokesman for the French hospital, would only say Arafat's condition was holding steady.

Col. Christian Estripeau said, "The state of health of President Yasser Arafat has not deteriorated. It's considered stable compared to the last health bulletin."

The spokesman for French Defense forces' medical service refused to answer any questions or comment on reports that Arafat was "brain dead" but being kept technically alive through life support.

The words were echoed by Arafat's top aide Nabil Abu Rdainah, who denied the Palestinian leader was in a coma.

Nabil Abu Rdainah said, "He is not in a coma and I can assure you that he is in a stable condition. But he is still in need of more medical tests."

Meanwhile in Gaza, Palestinian political and military groups including Hamas, the Fatah movement and the Islamic Jihad convened a meeting to discuss the formation of a national unified leadership for the Palestinian people.

Editor:Chen  Source:CCTV.com