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Yasser Arafat: France 'opens murder inquiry' | Yasser Arafat: France 'opens murder inquiry' |
(35 minutes later) | |
French prosecutors have opened a murder inquiry into the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, sources have told the French news agency AFP. | French prosecutors have opened a murder inquiry into the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, sources have told the French news agency AFP. |
His family launched a case last month over claims that he was poisoned with polonium-210, a radioactive element. | His family launched a case last month over claims that he was poisoned with polonium-210, a radioactive element. |
Polonium was apparently found on some of Arafat's belongings by Swiss scientists. | Polonium was apparently found on some of Arafat's belongings by Swiss scientists. |
The medical records of Arafat, who died near Paris in 2004, say he had a stroke resulting from a blood disorder. | The medical records of Arafat, who died near Paris in 2004, say he had a stroke resulting from a blood disorder. |
However, many Palestinians continue to believe Arafat was poisoned by Israel because he was an obstacle to peace. Israel has denied any involvement. | However, many Palestinians continue to believe Arafat was poisoned by Israel because he was an obstacle to peace. Israel has denied any involvement. |
Others allege that he had Aids. | Others allege that he had Aids. |
'Significant' polonium traces | |
Arafat's family lodged papers with the French authorities asking for an investigation in July. | |
The French news agency AFP on Tuesday reported that prosecutors had agreed to begin a murder inquiry. | The French news agency AFP on Tuesday reported that prosecutors had agreed to begin a murder inquiry. |
The agency quoted unnamed sources close to the case. | The agency quoted unnamed sources close to the case. |
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erakat told AFP that the Palestinian Authority welcomed the inquiry. | |
He said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had officially requested the help of French President Francois Hollande in the investigation. | |
"We hope there will be a serious investigation to reveal the whole truth, in addition to an international investigation to identify all the parties involved in Arafat's martyrdom," he said. | |
The inquiry stems from an Al-Jazeera TV documentary broadcast early in July. | |
The channel commissioned Lausanne University's Institute of Radiation Physics to analyse Arafat's belongings. | |
The scientists told the channel that they had found "significant" traces of polonium-210 present in items including Arafat's trademark keffiyeh. | |
Twin inquiries | |
Following the documentary, Arafat's widow Suha and daughter Zawra lodged a complaint with French judicial authorities. | |
Their lawyers have said they want a French investigation to work alongside international inquiries being conducted by the Lausanne scientists. | |
Last week, the Swiss institute said it had received permission from Suha Arafat and the Palestinian authorities to travel to Ramallah to analyse his remains. | |
Arafat led the Palestine Liberation Organisation for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996. | Arafat led the Palestine Liberation Organisation for 35 years and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996. |
He fell violently ill in October 2004 and died two weeks later, at the age of 75, in a French military hospital. | He fell violently ill in October 2004 and died two weeks later, at the age of 75, in a French military hospital. |
French doctors bound by privacy rules did not release information about Arafat's condition. | French doctors bound by privacy rules did not release information about Arafat's condition. |
In 2005, the New York Times obtained a copy of Arafat's medical records, which it said showed he died of a massive haemorrhagic stroke that resulted from a bleeding disorder caused by an unknown infection. | In 2005, the New York Times obtained a copy of Arafat's medical records, which it said showed he died of a massive haemorrhagic stroke that resulted from a bleeding disorder caused by an unknown infection. |
Experts who reviewed the records told the paper that it was highly unlikely that he had died of Aids or had been poisoned. | Experts who reviewed the records told the paper that it was highly unlikely that he had died of Aids or had been poisoned. |