ROME, Oct 29: French President Jacques Chirac personally took the decision to admit ailing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for treatment in a French hospital after a sudden deterioration in his health, his staff said on Friday.

Mr Chirac explained his decision at a news conference in Rome, where he was attending the signing of the new European Union constitution. "It was natural that France, land of refuge, would not question the right of the president of the Palestinian Authority to come for medical treatment in our country," he said.

According to Mr Chirac's staff: "When someone is ill, everyone should bow to humanitarian needs." The hospital at Percy was chosen for the treatment of Mr Arafat because of the high quality of its haematology department. Mr Arafat is suffering from a life-threatening blood disorder.

The initial approach for Mr Arafat to be treated in France came from Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, who contacted the French consulate general in Jerusalem, according to Jacques Chirac's staff.

The request was immediately relayed to the French foreign ministry and to the Elysee palace, where Mr Chirac quickly decided to give the green light. There were no discussions with the Israeli authorities about an eventual return to the Palestinian territories if Mr Arafat's health were to allow him to do so, Elysee sources said. The initiative on that point was taken by the Palestinians, who approached France after receiving assurances from the Israelis. -AFP