New York: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is suffering from stomach cancer, 'Time' magazine reported on October 10, quoting a source in his compound.

No independent confirmation was available.

The Palestinian officials denied reports that Arafat had suffered from mild heart attack last week and said he has been suffering from a "bad case of flu or an intestinal infection".

'Time', however, quotes a source inside his compound as saying that the recent "working diagnosis" is that Arafat is suffering from stomach cancer.

The magazine said Al-Jazeera TV had reported on October 9 that two teams of doctors, one from Jordan and the other from Egypt, had arrived to treat Arafat.

Abu Dhabi TV reported on October 10 that following their examination, the Egyptian doctors expressed "concern" about the state of health of the 74-year old leader. But neither report specified his condition, 'Time' said.

The prognosis for stomach cancer, 'Time' said, depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed and its location.

The magazine says whatever the stage of cancer, it would pose a major challenge for both Israel and the Palestinian authority.

The most immediate crisis would involve the need to treat Arafat's condition and the Ramallah compound in which he is holed up for best part of the two years is hardly the "most conducive environment for invasive surgery", 'Time' said.

PTI