Four Ps: Pardon my Paranoia, Perhaps he's been Poisoned. ~~~~~~~~~~
washingtonpost.com Arafat's Health Worsens Doctors Sent to Examine Palestinian Leader at Ramallah Compound By Mohammed Daraghmeh The Associated Press Wednesday, October 27, 2004; 6:44 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2564-2004Oct27?language=printer RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Yasser Arafat collapsed Wednesday evening, was unconscious for about 10 minutes and remained in a "very difficult situation," Palestinian officials said. A team of Jordanian doctors was urgently summoned to treat the ailing Palestinian leader.
Arafat was eating soup during a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and another official between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. (2 p.m. or 3 p.m. EDT) when he vomited, according to a bodyguard who was in the compound at the time.
The 75-year-old Arafat was brought to the clinic inside the compound, where he collapsed and was unconscious for about 10 minutes, the guard said. His doctors were urgently summoned.
On news that Arafat's health was worsening, scores of top Palestinian officials descended on the sandbagged, partially demolished Ramallah compound where he has been confined for 2 1/2 years. The officials milled around the courtyard, waiting for news outside Arafat's three-story building, bathed in spotlights.
Israeli security officials said Arafat's wife, Suha, who lives in France with their young daughter, was expected to arrive Thursday. The Jordanian doctors were also due Thursday.
A decision to move Arafat from his compound to a hospital will be made purely on medical grounds, without taking politics into consideration, a senior Palestinian official told The Associated Press. Israel on Monday said it would allow Arafat to leave the compound for the hospital and return afterward.
An official who was in the room with Arafat Wednesday night told AP that the Palestinian leader was in "serious condition."
Another official said Arafat was not awake when he saw him later in the evening, but it was unclear whether he was sleeping, had been sedated or was in a coma. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity. [...] http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2564-2004Oct27?language=printer ===============================