Although Jordan and Egypt reportedly offered to let Arafat, 75, be buried in their countries, plans are being made to bury him in Gaza, where his sister is buried, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Ahmed Qureia, Palestinian Authority prime minister, and Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath are expected to attend an urgent meeting in Ramallah Saturday of Palestinian Authority leaders. Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine will send representatives to the meeting.
Speculation about Arafat's condition, specific ailment and cause of that ailment was rampant.
"I can assure you that there is no brain death," Leila Shahid, the Palestinian envoy to France, said. "He is in a coma. We don't know the type but it's a reversible coma."
Shahid suggested the coma occurred after he was put under anesthesia to have additional medical tests, including an endoscopy, colonoscopy and a biopsy of the spinal cord.
"The doctors don't have a diagnosis," she said. "He could or could not wake up," she said, adding, "All vital organs are functioning."
Copyright 2004 by United Press International
