Arafat health conditions deteriorate

The Israeli daily Maareve quoted western sources as saying on Wednesday that the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat has started to suffer weakness of his old age and a weakness in his memory, noting that this was surfaced during the few past months.

According to the Israeli radio, the sources added that Arafat does not perform his duties fully and at certain times during official meetings he often falls asleep. The sources continued that certain Palestinian security sources do not convey to Arafat the complete picture on the conditions in the West bank and Gaza.

On the other hand, an Iraeli source said that Arafat's health conditions have relatively deteriorated but he seemed in the recent meetings held with the Israeli side in a good condition.