"The president is improving. Doctors are more convinced that the situation is under control," Arafat's economic adviser Mohamed Rashid told AFP.

Rashid said Arafat had made a series of "important" telephone calls to, among others, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Crown Prince Abdallah of Saudi Arabia and the senior Palestinian figures Ahmed Qorei and Mahmud Abbas.

"He was in a very good mood and he chatted with them and followed the activities in the territories. He is getting back to his normal activity slowly. Visits will not be allowed before the end of the week and no results are expected before Friday," Rashid said.