FRANCE Doctors continue to seek cause of Arafat's illness

Palestinian officials say cancer has been ruled out, but doctors wouldn't confirm that.
PARIS (AP) -- An ailing Yasser Arafat entered a fourth day of emergency treatment today at a French military hospital specializing in blood disorders, but the cause of his precipitous decline in health remained unexplained.
Palestinian officials say their leader's condition has improved markedly since he was rushed from his battered Ramallah headquarters in the West Bank to Paris on Friday -- and that he does not suffer from leukemia or cancer. But that has not been publicly confirmed by French physicians involved in his treatment.
On Sunday, Palestinians said, Arafat was healthy enough to telephone colleagues, read telegrams from world leaders, and eat a normal breakfast. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said all types of cancer had been ruled out.
However, Israel Army Radio quoted a senior military intelligence official today as saying Israel assumes Arafat suffers from either a severe viral infection or cancer.
The official, who was not identified further, appeared before the Israeli parliament's defense and foreign affairs committee, which was discussing Arafat's condition in a closed-door meeting.
Palestinian officials gave conflicting reports on when results from further tests were expected. Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Arafat's doctors would issue a medical report by early Tuesday. Mohammed Rashid, a close Arafat aide, said results were due Wednesday.
"Arafat does not have leukemia," said Rashid. "It's been ruled out. Rule it out." Arafat has been ill for two weeks and took a turn for the worse Wednesday, collapsing and briefly losing consciousness. Initial blood tests performed in the West Bank revealed a low blood platelet count. French physicians at the Hopital d'Instruction des Armees de Percy, southwest of Paris, gave Arafat a platelet transfusion shortly after his arrival.