Arafat to Be Exhumed over Poisoning Allegations

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat greets his supporters 13 September 2003 in Ramallah, West Bank. Photo by BGNES

Palestinian officials have announced that the body of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is to be exhumed on Tuesday.

His body is to undergo tests to find out whether his death in Paris in 2004 was caused by poisoning, BBC informs.

Arafat's medical records say he had a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.

However, France began a murder inquiry in August after Swiss experts hired by a documentary crew found radioactive polonium-210 on Arafat's personal effects.

Forensic experts from France, Switzerland and Russia will each take their own samples for independent analysis, Tawfiq Tirawi, head of the Palestinian investigation committee, has told CNN.

Arafat is expected to be reburied with a military ceremony.

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