In-fighting among Palestinians continued on Monday as Yassser Arafat's wife Suha clashed with other Palestinian Authority Leaders over issues of succession, money and access to the ill Palestinian Authority President as he lies in critical condition in a Paris military hospital.
Suha Arafat, who had not seen her husband in three years prior to his recent illness, accused other Palestinian leaders of trying to 'bury' her husband while he was still alive.
'Let it be known to the honest Palestinian people that a bunch of those who want to inherit are coming to Paris,' Mrs. Arafat said in a public statemnt in Arabic. 'I tell you they are trying to bury Abu Ammar alive,' she added, referring to Arafat's nom de guerre. 'He is all right and he is going home.'
Meanwhile, Palestinian Cabinet minister Saleh Taamri shot back at Mrs. Arafat saying, 'We are Yasser Arafat's family. We knew Yasser Arafat even before Mrs. Suha Arafat was born.'
A delegation of Palestinian leaders arrived in Paris today hoping to see Mr. Arafat but Suha Arafat has indicated she may not let them visit the ailing Fatah leader. At issue may be large amounts of money which Mr. Arafat has pocketed over the years and the succession of power in the Palestinian territories which would be up for grabs if Mr. Arafat were to die or be incapacitated.