TEL AVIV, Oct 27: Palestinian leader Yasser lost Consciousness on Wednesday, Israeli public radio reported, quoting Palestinian sources. He lost consciousness "several hours ago", it said.

Mr Arafat's senior adviser Nabil Abu Rudeina confirmed that a team of doctors was examining the veteran Palestinian leader.

"A team of Tunisian and Palestinian doctors is examining the president," Abu Rudeina said in a statement read out to journalists in front of Mr Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

He said Yasser Arafat "needs more rest because of his fatigue" and added that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah had offered to send doctors.

A source close to the Palestinian Authority said earlier that Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO's No 2, and premier Ahmed Qorei were also at the bedside of Mr Arafat, 75, who officially has been suffering from a severe bout of flu. -AFP