Palestinian troops on alert

2004-11-04 22:41

Ramallah - All members of the Palestinian security services were placed on a state of alert on Thursday to prepare for a possible outbreak of unrest in the event of Yasser Arafat's death, Palestinian security sources said.

Earlier in the day, Israeli forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were also placed on a state of alert following the reported deterioration in Arafat's health.

Israeli TV, citing French sources, reported that Arafat had been declared brain dead, but this has been denied.

Arafat is being treated at a military hospital outside Paris.

"The security forces have been put on a state of alert and all members ordered to be on standby," a senior Palestinian officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"We have been told to prepare for any activity which is beyond the law and to protect the legitimacy of all the Palestinian institutions."

Another source said that the decision to place all members of the myriad security forces on standby had been taken following a meeting between the heads of the security branches and interior minister Hakam Balawi.

- AFP