Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's health condition is difficult but stable, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Thursday.

Speaking to CNN, Erekat said that Arafat, who is now in Paris for medical treatment, was in stable condition although his health was difficult.

The Palestinian National Authority is running affairs normally, and it is closely following the situation, Erekat said.

According to Palestinian sources, Former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas will chair an emergency meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee later in the day to discuss matters concerning Arafat's health.

Earlier in the day, aides to Arafat said that Arafat has been in a coma since Wednesday evening and was now in critical condition in an intensive care unit at a French military hospital.

They said that doctors carrying out tests on the 75-year-old leader since he was airlifted to France last Friday still did not know what was wrong with him.