Initial results from a series of tests on Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat have uncovered no signs of leukaemia, his officials said today.
French doctors are trying for a third day to determine what has caused the dramatic deterioration in Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat 's health.
Palestinian officials gave conflicting reports on when results from further tests were expected. Mr Mohammed Rashid, a close Arafat aide, said results are due Wednesday, but Palestinian Cabinet minister Mr Saeb Erekat said a medical report would issue in the next 48 hours.
There had been mush speculation that the Palestinian leader had leukaemia because he had a low blood platelet count. But today Palestinian officials said doctors had ruled out the possibility.
"Arafat does not have leukaemia," said Mr Rashid. "It's been ruled out."
Palestinian foreign minister Mr Nabil Shaath said the 75-year-old's Arafat 's condition has improved markedly since he was taken on Friday from the West Bank to a French military hospital.
"He's much better, he's really much better, and he's more cheerful," Mr Shaath said. "He's more lively. He's less tired and we are awaiting a final assessment made by the French doctors about the diagnosis."
Mr Shaath said examinations had ruled out leukaemia "or any other cancer." However, doctors have not publicly confirmed any conclusion.
"There are many tests to be done in the coming days to find out the reason why the blood platelets are decreasing," Shaath said. Platelets are blood components that aid clotting. A low count indicates a possible problem with the bone marrow, where blood cells are made.
Mr Arafat's
In Israel, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Mr Ara fat will not be permitted to be buried in Jerusalem if he dies. The Palestinian leader has said he wants to be buried at the Jerusalem holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Haram as-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary.
Israel has marked a possible burial site for Mr Arafat in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis, in the West Bank, security officials said.
Though hard-line ministers at the meeting asked Mr Sharon to refuse to allow mr Arafat back into the West Bank, the premier said he was sticking by the commitment to allow him return from France after treatment.
Senior Palestinian and Israeli leaders held separate meetings today to plan a path forward in his absence. Palestinian officials have convened a series of top meetings in recent days to show that their institutions continue to function, while Israeli officials scrambled to plan for the possibility that the West Bank and Gaza could erupt into chaos if Mr Arafat dies.
AP
spokesman Mr Nabil Abu Rdeneh said Arafat is expected to recover and spent part of today catching up on international and Arab events and reading summaries of telegrams from world leaders who wished him well. "He is not suffering from any serious problem - his situation is curable - he will recover very soon. It is better than expected," Mr Rdeneh said.