Arafat's Health Questions Palestine Leadership

Politics | October 30, 2004, Saturday // 00:00
Arafat's Health Questions Palestine Leadership The health of Palestine leader Yasser Arafat, 75, has turned to a worse in recnt weeks, fuelling speculations about the future of the Palestinian cause. Photo by PPO

The ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is probably suffering of leukemia, blood cancer, French doctors suggested after first day of examination in Paris.

Complete test results are not expected as early as Monday, top Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh said on Saturday.

The 75-year-old Arafat has been sick for two weeks and blood tests have revealed he has a low platelet count - a possible symptom of leukemia, other cancers or a number of other maladies.

Palestinians were beginning to consider how their world would look without Arafat, the only leader they have known for nearly four decades.

Anxious to maintain an air of normalcy, the top committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization held its regularly weekly meeting in the Ramallah compound, leaving the iconic leader's chair at the head of the conference table empty.

Mahmoud Abbas, the secretary-general of the PLO executive committee, chaired the meeting - remaining in his usual seat to Arafat's right. Officials cautioned against seeing the meeting as a signal Abbas is ready to take over from Arafat.

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