The family of King Hussein of Jordan, who appears to have lost his long battle against cancer, decided last night against disconnecting his life-support system, according to a palace source.
The 63-year-old monarch was yesterday on a life-support machine after the failure of his vital organs, and had been pronounced clinically dead. His family had been expected to authorise switching off the life-support machine. But the palace source said, according to Reuters, that "there is no way to consider lifting the life support" for "whatever time it takes".
"His condition is hopeless. He is being kept alive by artificial means. It is only a matter of time," a senior source in the royal palace had told The Irish Times earlier.
President Clinton and his wife, Hillary, were making plans to leave for his funeral yesterday.
President Clinton is expected to arrive in Amman on Sunday and leave 12 hours later.
Speaking to the UN General Assembly, the Israeli ambassador, Mr Dore Gold, expressed "the deep feelings of the people of Israel for his majesty, King Hussein, with his courageous struggle against his illness".
The Palestinian observer at the UN, Mr Nasser al-Kidwa, said: "I would like to wish him a speedy recovery on behalf of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership."
Palace sources, however, made it clear that the only thing between life and death for the king was the flick of a switch.
The Government spokesman said last night that it was expected that the President, Mrs McAleese, accompanied by a senior minister, will attend the funeral of King Hussein in Jordan.