Palestinian officials say Yasser Arafat's health has deteriorated to a critical situation, but the Palestinian leader will not be taken off life support.
Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath said Tuesday the 75-year old leader's coma has deepened and that his fate is in the hands of God. Mr. Sha'ath spoke after Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia saw Mr. Arafat in a Paris hospital.
Mr. Sha'ath added that doctors believe Mr. Arafat's age, difficult life, and being confined to his office for the past three years contributed to his decline.
Earlier in the day, a top Arafat aide in the West Bank, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, said he had suffered from a brain hemorrhage. The aide added that a decision has been made to bury Mr. Arafat at his leadership compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.