UPDATED: ARAFAT IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Official: Arafat's health deteriorates
JERUSALEM (AP) -- The condition of Yasser Arafat, in a French hospital for treatment of an unidentified ailment, has deteriorated significantly over the past day, a Palestinian official said early Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed an Israeli TV report that Arafat was in very serious condition. He said that so far doctors have not determined what is wrong with him, as tests have come back without positive results, but Arafat's condition took a turn for the worse on Wednesday.

Arafat was flown to the French hospital on Friday, two days after his ailment caused him to lose consciousness for a short time at his west Bank headquarters. Israel's Channel Two TV reported that the Palestinian leader was moved to an intensive care unit in the French military hospital outside Paris, after his condition worsened.

The television report gave no further details. TV reporter Ehud Yaari told The Associated Press he was quoting Palestinian officials as saying Arafat was "in very serious condition."

SEE ALSO: In an article posted at USNews.com, Khaled abu Toameh writes in connection with Arafat's going to France to seek medical treatment that West Bank hospitals, starved for funds by the massive corruption of his regime, aren't equipped to treat his ailment, reportedly a life-threatening blood disease. What Irony! The terrorist is hoisted on the petard of his own corruption!