RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - The death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who has been lying in a coma in a French hospital for a week, was set to be announced at his West Bank headquarters, a Palestinian official told AFP.
As a top Islamic cleric prepared for a bedside visit to Arafat, other sources meanwhile said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had offered to host an official funeral in Cairo in the event of Arafat's death.
"The death of President Arafat should be announced Wednesday after meetings of the central committee of Fatah and the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to be held at the Muqataa," said the official who asked to remain anonymous.
The announcement of the ailing 75-year-old leader's death was expected after the return here early Wednesday of four top Palestinians from a visit to the military hospital at Clamart near Paris where Arafat was admitted 12 days ago.
However negotiations minister Saeb Erakat told AFP early Wednesday that Arafat was still fighting for his life as he confirmed that the veteran leader would be buried at the battered Muqataa compound in the event of his death.
"There is no doubt that if President Arafat dies he will be buried at the Muqataa," Erakat said.
However, he stressed that the head of the Palestinian Authority, who was dramatically flown from Ramallah for treatment in France on October 29, was still alive "at 2:00 am (midnight GMT)".
Erakat also pledged that Arafat's body would eventually be moved and reburied in east Jerusalem when peace with Israel is achieved.
"I think it (a burial in Ramallah) will be temporary and one day, when we have peace and we are alright as neighbours, President Arafat's body will be moved to east Jerusalem, to the al-Aqsa mosque," he told Israeli radio.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian representative in France, Leila Shahid, said that Arafat was still alive but in a critical condition in hospital.
Foreign minister Nabil Shaath, a member of the four-strong leadership delegation that went to Paris, said before leaving that Arafat was gravely ill but still alive.
After an anonymous claim by a fellow cabinet minister that Arafat had lost his fight for life, Shaath told journalists Arafat's condition had worsened and he was in a deep coma, but that his heart, brain and lungs were functioning.
Shaath gave a lengthy account of Arafat's condition to journalists, denying that life support machines would be unplugged.
"I want to rule out any question of euthanasia. People talk as if his life can be plugged in or plugged out. This is ridiculous. We Muslims do not allow euthanasia," he said.
Shaath was accompanied on a 24-hour visit to Paris by three other top Palestinians -- prime minister Ahmed Qorei, the PLO's acting leader Mahmud Abbas and parliamentary speaker Rawhi Fattuh.
Abbas was expected to preside over the PLO and Fatah meetings on Wednesday. Both organisations have been led by Arafat for the last four decades.
Members of both committees were also expected to decide on Mubarak's offer to hold an official funeral in the Egyptian capital.
"Mr Mubarak made the offer to members of Fatah's central committee during their meeting, late last night in Ramallah," an official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"When God's will is known, we will organise an official funeral in Cairo that world leaders can attend, then Arafat's body can be transfered to Ramallah for burial," he added, quoting Mubarak's offer.
"The committee members accepted Mubarak's offer, and we are waiting for the approval of the Palestinian command."
As the four top lieutenants returned to the West Bank, a senior Islamic cleric arrived in France to visit Arafat's bedside.
Tayssir el-Tamimi, head of religious courts in the Palestinian territories, flew in to Charles de Gaulle airport and was expected at the Percy military hospital in Clamart, Palestinian officials said.
An announcement of Arafat's death could have a galvanising impact on the stalled Middle East peace process.
US President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon have refused to meet with Arafat for the last four years.
However Abbas, who is now emerging as the key figure in the Palestinian leadership, was a guest of both men during his brief tenure as prime minister last year.
Speaking in Mexico City, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said his country was willing to work with whatever leaders the Palestinians choose in the event of Arafat's death.
"The US remains ready to engage with the Palestinian leadership as the Palestinians define that leadership," Powell said.
11/10/2004 - 10:15 GMT - AFP