The ailing Palestinian leader is allowed to go for treatment anywhere he chooses, whether at home or abroad, the officials said, adding but the question of whether Arafat could return after was "a separate issue after he recuperates."

Palestinian sources said Wednesday night that Arafat's health has deteriorated and he is in critical condition.

The sources said that Tunisian doctors were fighting for his life and there are plans to move Arafat to the hospital in Ramallah.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz on Wednesday approved a PNA request to allow Jordanian doctors to examine Arafat. Mofaz granted permission to transfer Arafat to a hospital in Ramallah.

Senior Palestinian officials, including current Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and the heads of various Palestinian security forces, are currently in his Ramallah headquarters. An ambulance and a team of doctors are also there to check on him.

However, Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo denied earlier reports that Arafat had lost consciousness.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat also said he had seen the 75-year-old leader earlier on Wednesday and Arafat "was still recovering from stomach flu."

On Tuesday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said that Arafat was in pain because of serious "intestinal flu", but doctors flown in from Egypt and Tunisia expected him to be feeling much better in a few days. Shaath said the doctors had ruled out stomach cancer.

Confined to his headquarters for the past two years by Israeli forces, Arafat underwent a minor diagnostic procedure on Monday after complaining of stomach pains. Palestinian officials said then that an endoscopy found no serious ailment.