High level of polonium found in Arafat's remains

Bern, Nov 7 : A detailed investigation by Swiss forensic experts has found at least 18 times the normal levels of radioactive polonium in the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's remains, suggesting that he may have been poisoned to death, Al Jazeera reported Wednesday.

A 108-page report by Swiss scientists says that the probe findings supports the theory that Arafat was poisoned with polonium. The late Palestinian leader's official medical records say that he died of a stroke in 2004.

The study conducted at the Vaudois University Hospital Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland included evaluation of "the handling of the case", examining a travel bag containing Arafat's personal effects and "a forensic evaluation of the specimens taken from the remains after exhumation" in 2012, according to the report.

Many Palestinians believe that Israel poisoned Arafat. But Israel has consistently denied any involvement in the Palestinian leader's death at the French Military Hospital of Percy, Clamart.

IANS