The Hindu : International : Arafat being examined, leukaemia suspected

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Sunday, Oct 31, 2004

International

International

Arafat being examined, leukaemia suspected

PARIS, OCT. 30. Physicians specialising in the treatment of leukaemia were examining the ailing Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, on Saturday to determine whether he suffers from the blood disorder, Palestinian sources said.

The 75-year-old Arafat has been sick for the past two weeks and blood tests have revealed he has a low platelet count — a possible symptom of leukaemia, other cancers or a number of other maladies.

Mr. Arafat received a transfusion of platelets shortly after being rushed on Friday to France for treatment at the Hopital d'Instruction des Armees de Percy, a military teaching hospital southwest of Paris that specialises in blood disorders and trauma care.

Undergoes scan

A Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was a strong possibility that Mr. Arafat was suffering from leukaemia and that a team of French physicians specialising in the disorder had examined the Palestinian leader on Friday.

``It looks like it is leukaemia,'' the official said. ``They are trying to find out if in fact it is leukaemia, and if so, what type. They are trying to see what is the best way to treat it.''

Mr. Arafat could remain in France for four to five weeks, said the official, who was the first Palestinian to confirm that leukaemia was suspected.

Another Palestinian official said Mr. Arafat had undergone a CT scan and that the results were negative.

A contingent of around 18 Palestinian officials flew in with Mr. Arafat, including Mohammed Rashid, his financial adviser; Mohammed Dahlan, the former security chief in Gaza; chief of staff Ramzi Khoury and top aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh.

During Mr. Arafat's illness, Palestinian officials have blamed the flu and gallstones. — AP

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