Ailing Arafat flies to Paris hospital

Ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was on a flight to Paris today to receive treatment for what is thought to be a blood disorder - possibly leukaemia.

He leaves behind uncertainty and the prospect of bitter infighting over who should succeed him in the event of his death. The Israeli government, which does not want to be accused of contributing to the Palestinian president's death, has said it is treating the matter as a humanitarian issue and will allow Mr Arafat to return to the West Bank.

Mr Arafat's journey comes after doctors told his aides his immune system was collapsing and he had to be moved. There is growing speculation he has leukaemia, but further tests are needed.

Officials released a video of Mr Arafat surrounded by aides. Looking weak and haggard, and dressed in a blue tracksuit and woolly hat, he smiled for the cameras

In his absence a three-man committee has been appointed to run the Palestinian Authority. it includes prime minister Ahmed Qureia.