The Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee met Saturday, in Ramallah without its leader, Yasser Arafat.

Officials in the West Bank say the meeting was intended to reassure Palestinians that their institutions are functioning in Mr. Arafat's absence.

On Friday, the ailing leader was flown to Paris for medical tests to diagnose the source of a blood disorder. Speculation has given rise to rumors that Mr. Arafat is suffering from the blood cancer, leukemia.

Mr. Arafat has not named a successor or someone to act in his absence. Officials say Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia will run the daily affairs of the Palestinian Authority, and former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas will run the PLO.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank town of Jenin, Palestinians say Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian teenager.