CLAMART, France, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was not dead at 3:30 pm (1430 GMT), a French official said Tuesday.

    But earlier, the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV quoted Palestinian sources as saying Tuesday that Arafat was dead in the French military hospital.

    However, the authenticity of the report could not be independently verified, and Palestinian officials in the West Banksaid they haven't been informed about his death.

    Earlier, visiting former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said the condition of Arafat is "very serious," after seeinghim in a military hospital outside Paris.

    "His situation is serious. Sadly it is very serious," said Abbas, who is number two in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

    "We saw all the doctors," he said.

    Abbas, currently acting PLO chief, is here to visit Arafat together with Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and parliamentary speaker Rawhi Fattuh.

    They had been taken to Arafat's bedside and spent two and a half hours at the Percy military hospital in the suburb of Clamart.

    They are scheduled to see President Jacques Chirac at 4.30 pm (1530 GMT) and then give a press conference.

    On earlier Tuesday, they came to the hospital not long after a spokesman for the hospital said Arafat's condition deteriorated overnight and that the "state of coma which led to his admission to the intensive care unit became deeper this morning."

    "This marks a significant step towards a development whose prognosis is doubtful," said Christian Estripeau.

    The four officials were driven to Clamart immediately after holding talks with French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier. The meeting was described as "political."

    Barnier assured the visiting Palestinians of the "full support of France and Europe" at this difficult time for the region.

    During the talks, the French foreign minister "paid homage to Palestinian officials for their activities in the Palestinian territories" and for their "unity and spirit of responsibility," aFrench Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

    Barnier also expressed France's solidarity with the PalestinianAuthority and the Palestinian people in their difficulties, the spokesman said.

    He said France is more than ever committed to the resumption ofnegotiations under the "roadmap" peace plan. Enditem