US told Arafat 'critical but semi-conscious' - official

WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (AFP) - The United States has been told by French authorities that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is "in a critical but semi-conscious state" at a hospital outside Paris, a State Department official said Thursday.
"The latest we have from the French is that he is in a criticial but semi-conscious state," the official said, following reports, later denied by French and Palestinian officials, that Arafat had died. "It`s not looking good, but his body is still warm."

11/04/2004 17:14 GMT - AFP