The United States said on Wednesday that it hopes for a smooth transition in the Palestinian leadership as Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is critically ill.
"You have seen a relatively calm and orderly process under way in the Palestinian areas ... putting in place governing arrangements for a period of sickness and whatever might happen afterwards. You have seen people appointed to various jobs," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing.
Boucher said above all, there is a functioning Palestinian government in place headed by a prime minister.
"And so this is a process that is unfolding and our interest is in seeing smooth arrangements, and they appear to be being made and carried out. And we hope the calm and the kind of orderly process that has prevailed will continue," Boucher said.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath told a press conference in Paris on Tuesday that Arafat is still alive and his brain, heart and lungs still function, but he is in a deep coma and his condition has deteriorated.