RAMALLAH, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Senior Palestinian official YasserAbed Rabbo denied on Tuesday reports saying that Palestinian leaderYasser Arafat has died in a French hospital.

    Abed Rabbo told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah thatthe reports saying that Arafat who suffers from a deep coma earlierTuesday had died "are totally untrue," adding that "Arafat is stillalive."

    However, a high-ranking Palestinian security official in Gaza,who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that he expects thatArafat's death would be announced within the coming few hours.Enditem