"There is no committee that has been formed, this is not true," Arafat's senior advisor Nabil Abu-Rudeineh told reporters at Arafat's compound in Ramallah.

    Earlier, the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV channel reported that Arafat, who is now in critical condition, has named a three-man committee to take over in his absence.

    The committee groups Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and his predecessor Mahmud Abbas and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Zaanoun, said the report, adding the three men will take over power for the 75-year-old veteran leader in case he needs surgery.

    Palestinian sources said on Wednesday night that Arafat is in critical condition and a team of doctors in his Ramallah headquarters were fighting for his life.

    A Palestinian official revealed that Arafat had collapsed Wednesday, was unconscious for about ten minutes and regained consciousness but remained in "very difficult situation."

    Confined to his headquarters for the past two years by Israeli forces, Arafat underwent a minor diagnostic procedure on Monday after complaining of stomach pains. Palestinian officials said thenthat an endoscopy found no serious ailment. Enditem