PARIS, Nov 8: Palestinian leaders headed to Paris on Monday to see critically ill President Yasser Arafat at a French military hospital despite a scathing attack by his wife , who accused them of plotting to "bury him alive".

Amid an increasingly bitter row over Yasser Arafat's fate, Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and PLO Secretary General Mahmoud Abbas flew to France from the Jordanian capital Amman.

Israeli media reported the 75-year-old president would be taken off life-support equipment after the three leaders _ all seen as potential successors _ had visited him in the hospital's intensive care unit.

But Christian Estripeau, the chief doctor treating him in a French military hospital, said: "His condition is stable ... Mr Arafat's medical condition forces us to limit visits."

One of the Palestinian officials said they would discuss Mr Arafat's condition, the subject of conflicting reports, with senior French officials. They were also scheduled to see French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday, his office said.

The departure of the three leaders from the West Bank appeared to have been delayed after Mr Arafat's wife Suha lashed out at them in a television interview.

"I appeal to you to be aware of the scope of the conspiracy," shouted Suha Arafat, appearing on the Al Jazeera satellite television and sparking a war of words with her husband's deputies.

"They are trying to bury Abu Ammar (Arafat) alive," she said. -Reuters