Russian experts rule out radiation poisoning in Arafat death
Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat did not die as a result of radiation exposure, Russian experts conclude
On Thursday Russian forensic experts studying the remains of Yasser Arafat said the Palestinian leader died a natural death, ruling out radiation poisoning.
“We have completed all the studies,” Vladimir Uiba, head of Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), told a news conference.
“The person died a natural death and not from radiation”.
Arafat’s remains were exhumed last year and some 60 samples were taken and divided between Swiss and Russian investigators as well as a French team carrying out a probe at the request of Arafat’s widow, Suha.
The French have also ruled out poisoning, while the Swiss report said high levels of radioactive polonium indicated third party involvement in Arafat’s 2004 demise.
The Palestinians have long suspected that Arafat was poisoned, with some pointing the finger directly at Israel. Suha Arafat has said that she was “completely convinced that the martyr Arafat did not die a natural death”.