RAMALLAH, Oct. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat suffers from low count of white blood cells, Palestinian official sources quoted his doctors as saying late Thursday. The sources said this could have been triggered by an inflammation caused by virus or blood poisoning. Previous reports said Arafat suffered from a serious stomach flu.

    Arafat's senior advisor Nabil Abu Rudeina said the leader was now in stable conditions but doctors had advised Arafat to receive follow-up checks abroad as they deemed it necessary. Arafat, who has taken ill for the past two weeks, would be airlifted to Paris early Friday for treatment.

    Palestinian sources said they were making contacts with the US administration and other international sides to guarantee that Arafat would be able to return to the territories after receiving medical treatment in France.

    According to one of Arafat's medical consultants, the departure was scheduled at 6:30 a.m. (0430 GMT).

    Two Jordanian helicopters will airlift Arafat from the West Bankcity to Amman, where he will take a French plane to Paris, Jordan's official Petra News Agency reported. Enditem