Thursday, November 7, 2013

Arafat polonium findings confirmed by Swiss scientists

Arafat polonium findings confirmed by Swiss scientists

Yasser Arafat (file image)Yasser Arafat died in a military hospital in Paris
Swiss scientists have confirmed that tests show the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had high levels of radioactive polonium in his body.
However, they said they could not confirm that the polonium had caused his death in 2004.
Their report concluded that Arafat's remains showed levels of polonium 18 times higher than normal.
Arafat's widow, Suha, has reaffirmed to the BBC her belief that their report proves he was assassinated.
But she said she couldn't directly accuse anyone, saying that he had many enemies around the world.
The Swiss scientists' report was published on Wednesday by broadcaster al-Jazeera.
Addressing a news conference on Thursday, the scientists reiterated that they couldn't confirm or deny that polonium 210 had caused Arafat's death.
Professor Francois Bochud told a news conference: "Can we exclude polonium as cause of death? The response is clearly 'no'. Was polonium the cause of the death for certain? The answer is no, we cannot show categorically that hypothesis that the poisoning caused was this or that."
Arafat's official medical records say he died in 2004 from a stroke resulting from a blood disorder.
But his body was exhumed last year amid continuing claims he was murdered.
Parallel investigations are being carried out by French and Russian experts - one Russian official said last month that no traces of polonium had been found.
Many Palestinians have long believed that Israel poisoned Arafat. There have also been allegations that he had Aids or cancer. Israel has consistently denied any involvement.

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