Speical report: Concern mounts over Arafat's health

Arafat bid farewell to his people in Palestine. 75-year-old Palestinian leader Arafat left Amman's military airport aboard a French plane at around 8:00 am (0600 GMT) Friday on his way to Paris for medical treatment. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Thousands of people gathered in towns and cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Thursday to show solidarity with the veteran leader.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Arafat's wife Suha Arafat will accompany him to France for treatment.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

 

Two Jordanian helicopters airlifted Arafat from the West Bank city to the Jordanian capital Amman, where he will take a French plane to Paris for medical treatment.(Photo: Xinhua)

    AMMAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat left Amman's military airport aboard a French plane at around 8:00 am (0600 GMT) Friday on his way to Paris for medical treatment.

    The 75-year-old Palestinian leader was airlifted to Amman earlier Friday by a Jordanian military helicopter from his Ramallah headquarters.

    Fifteen doctors, including local physicians and specialists from Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt, examined Arafat on Thursday and believed he would be able to get the best treatment in Paris.

    Arafat was taken ill two weeks ago, and was initially diagnosedas suffering nothing worse than a persistent flu. He underwent a minor diagnostic procedure on Monday after complaining of stomach pains.

    On Wednesday evening, Arafat's condition deteriorated. He collapsed and remained unconscious for about 10 minutes, one of his bodyguards said.

    One of the medics who has been treating Arafat for the last fewdays said he was suffering from a condition which could prove fatal.

    Israeli officials speculated that Arafat might have stomach cancer, but two of his doctors said Wednesday that a blood test and an endoscopy found no serious ailment.

    Israel has confined the Palestinian leader to his Muqata headquarters in Ramallah for more than two years.

    On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke with hisPalestinian counterpart, Ahmed Qurei, and agreed in principle to permit ailing Arafat to be flown abroad for medical treatment.

    Israel, which has declared Arafat an obstacle to peace, has also guaranteed that it will not bar him from returning to the West Bank.

    During Arafat's absence, there would be no acting leader since the prime minister, the Palestinian Legislative Council and the PLO were all there to address the daily work, said Palestinian officials.

    As news of Arafat's illness circulated, thousands of people gathered in towns and cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Thursday to show solidarity with the veteran leader. Enditem