Fainting bouts keep Arafat worried: Time

But an unnamed Palestinian official 8220;confirmed the blackout8221; in remarks to Time, saying 8220;Arafat8217;s lips turned blue and his eyes rolled in to the back of his head before a doctor came to revive him.8221;

The story also cited information from 8220;an intelligence agency8221; which said the 68-year-old Palestinian leader had told close associates that he did not expect to live much longer.

8220;Arafat has taken to telling close aides that he doesn8217;t think he8217;ll make it to his 70th birthday, two years away,8221; Time said in its US edition published on Monday.

Many Israelis were alarmed by an interview with the Palestinian leader on Israeli television earlier this month in which he appeared tired, agitated and trembling.

Time said 8220;some observers believe he has early symptoms of Parkinson8217;s disease.8221;

A Palestinian official said on Friday that Arafat was in 8220;the best of health8221;.