CAIRO, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister NabilShaath told CNN Tuesday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is "still alive" and his vital organs were still functioning.

    Shaath said there was no decision to take off the life-supportsystem from Arafat, who slipped into a deeper coma overnight.

    The minister added that Arafat's illness was not connected tocancer or poisoning.

    Conflicting reports on Arafat's health went rampant Tuesday,with some media claiming Arafat was dead quoting Palestiniansources and others saying he was still alive.

    Senior Palestinian official Abed Rabbo told reporters in theWest Bank city of Ramallah that the reports saying that Arafat haddied in a French hospital "are totally untrue," adding that "Arafatis still alive."

    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.

    Acting Palestine Liberation Organization chief Mahmoud Abbas,Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Palestinian Legislative Council chiefRawhi Fattuh and Shaath visited Arafat Tuesday afternoon and spenttwo and a half hours at the Percy military hospital in the suburbof Clamart, outside Paris.

    They were scheduled to see French President Jacques Chirac at 4:30 p.m. (1530 GMT) and then give a press conference. Enditem