RAMALLAH, 28 October 2004 — Yasser Arafat’s health worsened yesterday and a team of doctors went to his compound to examine the Palestinian leader, according to a Palestinian official close to Arafat.

Arafat had been ill over the past two weeks, suffering from what Palestinian officials said was a lengthy bout of the flu. Israeli officials speculated he might have stomach cancer, but two of Arafat’s doctors said yesterday that a blood test, combined with a biopsy of tissue taken from his digestive tract, showed he does not have cancer of the digestive tract.

Late yesterday, Arafat’s condition deteriorated and his doctors rushed to his room to examine him, an official in Arafat’s office said.

Soon after, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei and former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas were summoned to Arafat’s compound, the official said.

The two entered Arafat’s room, but other Palestinian officials were kept out, the official said.

Arafat spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah later told reporters that Arafat remained in good health and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdallah had offered to send medical teams today for follow-up checks.

“President Arafat still needs more rest ... The situation is stable now, he is in a stable condition, but he needs more rest and more medical care,” he told reporters. He refused to answer any questions.

Many Palestinian officials — including security officials — arrived at Arafat’s compound, the muqata, and were seen milling about the courtyard outside.

Anxious Palestinians were glued to their TV sets to find out the latest about the health of their leader.

Israeli security officials said they were aware that something had happened to Arafat, but they did not know details. However, the Palestinians had not asked Israel for permission to move Arafat to a hospital.

A hospital official said Tuesday that Arafat was suffering from a large gallstone. The gallstone, while extremely painful, is not life-threatening and can be easily treated, the official told reporters.

Arafat’s health has been the subject of intense speculation. His aides have insisted that the Palestinian leader is recovering from a bad case of the flu, and is not suffering from a serious illness.

However, they have played down his health problems in the past, apparently to avoid making him appear weak.

One of his doctors said earlier yesterday that Arafat’s medical team was concerned that he did not appear to be improving after nearly two weeks of sickness.

Yesterday, Arafat continued to rest, and broke his Ramadan fast for a second straight day, aides said.

After doctors diagnosed the gallstone Tuesday, Arafat underwent more medical tests at the urging of his doctors.

A member of the medical team, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a blood test showed no signs of cancer. A second doctor involved in Arafat’s treatment said that a biopsy of tissue taken from the Palestinian leader Monday during an endoscopy — or exam of his digestive tract — also showed no signs of cancer.

Teams of Egyptian and Tunisian doctors have examined Arafat in recent days.

The exams were conducted at Arafat’s headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Arafat has not left the sandbagged, partially demolished compound since 2002 because of Israeli threats he would not be allowed to return.

Arafat’s doctors have equipped two rooms in the compound with medical equipment so routine tests can be carried out there, instead of in a hospital.

A medical official involved in the testing Monday said the clinic contains X-ray and ultrasound machines, as well as equipment for emergency resuscitation. During the test, Arafat was in his pajamas and wore a blue wool hat, instead of his trademark black-and-white checkered headscarf, the medical official said.

Palestinian doctors and lab workers conducted the tests, which were then analyzed by five visiting specialists from Tunisia.

Arafat chatted with the visitors, telling them about previous Israeli incursions into his compound.

The medical official said Arafat continues to sleep in a small room, which has only one window and is furnished with a bed and a closet, even though a new, sunnier room has been refurbished for him on another floor.

From his small window, Arafat looks out on rubble and heaps of cars flattened in previous Israeli raids.

— Additional input from agencies