Ailing Arafat 'Being Taken To Paris' (IS anyone surprised?)
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to be taken to Paris for treatment as concern grows over his health, his doctors have said.A picture of Arafat surrounded by his doctors was released as they prepared to fly him to France either tonight or tomorrow.
Fifteen doctors, including local physicians and specialists from Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt, examined Arafat and decided he would be able to get the best treatment in Paris, one of the doctors said.
It will be the first time that Mr Arafat will have left his compound in Ramallah in nearly three years.
Israeli officials had already confirmed that Mr Arafat would be allowed to travel overseas to receive treatment.
Mr Arafat, 75, has suffered stomach pains since last week, but his health deteriorated on Wednesday and there have been claims that he lost consciousness.
Doctors have spent a long time examining him, and initial reports suggest that he has a blood disorder.
Mr Arafat has reportedly spent most of the day sleeping, and has been having trouble keeping food down. Meanwhile, his wife Suha has arrived in the West Bank, having travelled from France.She has not seen her husband since a Palestinian revolt against Israel broke out in 2000.
Mr Arafat had earlier said there was no cause for concern over his health.
Munib al-Masri, a businessman close to Arafat, saw the Palestinian leader and said: "The president wants to tell the Palestinian people and the whole world that he is OK and there is no need to worry about him."
Mr Arafat had an exploratory operation earlier this week after suffering stomach pains and vomiting.
Doctors carried out an endoscopy, an investigative procedure in which a small scope is inserted into the body.
Questions about Mr Arafat's health have raised Palestinian fears of a bloody power stru
