PARIS, November 4 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian officials and sources gave conflicting report Thursday, November 4, about the health condition of President Yasser Arafat, currently receiving treatment here.

"He did not lose consciousness, he is not unconscious and not in a coma either," Arafat's top aide Nabil Abu Rudeina told Agence France Presse (AFP).

"He was indeed admitted to an intensive care unit as his condition is not improving despite positive preliminary tests," he added.

"These are rumors," the top Arafat aide, referring to earlier reports that Arafat had lost consciousness three times or had fallen into a coma at the Percy military hospital in Clamart southwest of Paris.

"He is still ill and he needs additional tests but he is not in a coma or in any danger," Abu Rudeina insisted.

A senior Palestinian official earlier told Reuters that Arafat "is in a coma and in a critical condition."

Reports said that the Palestinian leader has been vomiting and lapsing in and out of consciousness.

French hospital sources declined to comment on Arafat’s health conditions.

Tests have already revealed that the 75-year-old Palestinian leader has a low count of blood platelets, which are needed for clotting, but doctors are uncertain over what is causing the condition.

In the occupied Palestinian territories, former prime minister Mahmud Abbas was to chair an emergency meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, PLO sources said.

The meeting of the decision-making body was to be held at 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) immediately after a central committee meeting of Arafat's Fatah faction, they added.

Abbas, who had been expected to fly to Paris to visit Arafat in hospital, has been placed in charge of both organizations in the absence of the Palestinian leader.

Israeli intelligence officers were reportedly called to a meeting Thursday to discuss reports about Arafat's health, security sources said.

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz called the meeting of top officials from Mossad, its domestic security counterpart Shin Beth and army intelligence.

Army chief of staff Moshe Yaalon was also to convene a meeting of Israeli military commanders based in the Palestinian territories, the sources said.

Palestinian envoy in Paris Leila Shahid told Reuters Wednesday that Arafat’s health has suffered a setback and that doctors were trying to find out what had caused that.

"Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback.

"Tomorrow (Thursday), the doctors will give a very clear and direct explanation and report on what is happening."

The Palestinian leader was well enough on Wednesday to welcome the reelection of US President George W. Bush.

"President Arafat welcomed Bush's victory and voiced the hope that his new mandate and the confidence placed in him by the American people will give new momentum to the Middle East peace process," said Mohammed Rashid, a close associate of the Palestinian leader.

Arafat’s health sometimes suffers setbacks and improves at other times, Rashid noted.

"The life of the president is not, at the moment, in danger and his condition is not bad."