Alshobaki: President Arafat's Health Stable

Alshobaki to Aljazeera: President Arafat's Health Stable

RAMALLAH, Palestine, October 28, 2004 (IPC+ Aljazeera)--Palestinian local government minister, Jamal Alshobaki, asserted on Thursday that President Yasser Arafat's health condition is stable and that he welcomes visitors to the Muqata'a regularly.

Speaking to the Qatari-based Aljazeera Arab Satellite TV Channel in a televised interview, minister Alshobaky said " President Arafat's health condition is stable as the President had this morning some breakfast, performed the dawn prayer and talked to all those who came over to check on his health consciously"

Alshobaki denied Arafat has lost conscious, but emphasized Arafat could be possibly taken to a local Ramallah hospital within the next few hours.

Nabil Abu Rodaina, President Arafat's key advisor, denied yesterday night media reports, alleging the President has lost consciousness after having gone through a severe flu over the past few days.

Reports on Arafat's health have been conflicting; Arafat had a severe flu, had an appendix cancer and so on. Yet, Tunisian doctors , who arrived earlier to Arafat's battered headquarters in Ramallah confirmed the President had a severe flu.

Media sources reported that the President's health condition has been deteriorated drastically, as he lost consciousness and that a Palestinian officials committee has been formed to follow up the President's authorities and responsibilities once Arafat is absent.

Palestinian Telecommunications Minister, Azzam Al-ahmad denied a committee has been formed and that the President still maintaining ordinary control over the situation.

Jordanian and Egyptian doctors are due to arrive today in Ramallah to follow up Arafat's health condition along with the Tunisian doctors who have been taking after the President earlier, as Palestinian and international officials as well as public began to overflow to the Muqata'a to check on the President's health.

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