PARIS -- Medical sources in Paris have confirmed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is brain dead. Arafat is in a state of "cerebral death," the sources said.

The comments follow a day of conflicting reports about the Palestinian leader's fate.

Earlier, doctors treating Arafat at the French military hospital denied reports they had removed him from life support. Israeli television Channel 2 reported Arafat was clinically dead and removed from a respirator Thursday evening.

"Mr. Arafat is not dead," Christian Estripeau told a news conference. Estripeau said Arafat's condition had become more complex since he was admitted to Percy hospital Saturday.

Palestinian officials in Ramallah said Arafat's wife, Suha, and the five Palestinian officials accompanying him would make an official statement later.

French television reported Arafat is in an irreversible coma.

However, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told an anxious crowd in Ramallah that was untrue.

"There is no coma ... no coma," Qureia said, adding Arafat was in "critical" condition and being treated in the intensive care unit.

Arafat arrived in Paris Saturday after a team of doctors in the West Bank city of Ramallah said they had been unable to determine the cause of his illness.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International