Tests ‘moderately support’ position that Arafat was poisoned

Tests carried out by a Swiss forensic team have concluded that the tests results carried out 'moderately support' the position that the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, was poisoned with polonium-210.

The results follow a detailed examination of his remains which were exhumed last November, together with his medical records and items from the Paris Hospital where he died.

Siha Arafat, the wife of the late Palestinian leader, said that the tests convinced her that her husband was poisoned, claiming that only countries with nuclear reactors have access to polonium.

She said that she had her own personal convictions as to who may have poisoned her husband but was "too afraid" to reveal them. She did admit, though, that the poison must have been administered to his food or drink by "someone from his entourage, or someone he knew".

She was, however, reluctant to place the blame on Israel, with which Palestine has a long and tempestuous history.

"Everyone says Israel, but I can't say that. I did this scientifically from the beginning so I must leave it in the hands of the investigators," she said.

Meanwhile, Israel has strongly denied any involvement in the case.