Related special report: Concern mounts over Arafat's health

    PARIS, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The health department of the French Defense Ministry declared Sunday morning that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's condition is unchanged since the last health update released on Friday.

    "Yasser Arafat is in an unchanged condition compared with the last health update (on Friday)," French RFI television quoted as saying General Christian Estripeau, the spokesman for France's military medical service.

    Late on Friday, Christian Estripeau said "Yasser Arafat's condition has not deteriorated (over the last 24 hours) and is considered stable."

    Arafat's top aide Nabil Abu Rudeina said on Saturday that Arafat remained "critical" but not "irreversible."

Arafat and his daughter. The health department of the French Defense Ministry declared Sunday morning that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's condition is unchanged since the last health update released on Friday. The 75-year-old Arafat, who became severely ill 11 days ago at his West Bank residence in Ramallah, was airlifted to the Percy hospital southwest of Paris on Oct. 29. (Xinhua file photo) Arafat and wife Suha Arafat.  (Xinhua file photo) Arafat (R), his wife Suha and daughter takes a picture with French president Chirac in Gaza, Oct. 23, 1996.(Xinhua file Photo)

    The 75-year-old Arafat, who became severely ill 11 days ago at his West Bank residence in Ramallah, was airlifted to the Percy hospital southwest of Paris on Oct. 29.

    Palestinian officials declared Friday evening that the medical team treating Arafat would be the only body authorized to comment on Arafat's condition.

    The team's first official medical report on the Palestinian leader's condition released Tuesday ruled out leukemia or cancer, but was unable to specify the cause of his "blood disorder." Enditem