Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat on Saturday remained in a critical state in a French military hospital. His close media aide, Nabil Abu Rudeina, denied that Arafat was beyond recovery and said he could emerge from the coma which he has been in since Wednesday.
"Despite President Arafat's critical state of health his condition has not reached a stage that is irreversible, as some media have reported, and we hope his condition will improve in the coming days," Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei made a rare visit to the Gaza Strip on Saturday for talks with Palestinian groups aimed at preserving calm in the background of Arafat's condition.
Qurei arrived in Gaza under heavy guard and accompanied by Parliament Speaker Rauhi Fattouh.
Qurei's first meeting included leaders of the Islamic groups, including Hamas, and chiefs of the various Palestinian security forces in the Strip.
Before Saturday's meeting, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group is committed to preserving Palestinian unity. But he also said the group's longstanding demand for a role in Palestinian decision making is more urgent due to the current crisis. "This time is very sensitive. It's a historic time. There is no space for any unilateral decisions," he said. (albawaba.com)
