Yasser Arafat was victim of polonium poisoning 'political assassination'

According to Yasser Arafat’s wife, the former Palestinian leader was a victim of assassination.

16:44 07 November 2013

Forensic reports suggest that former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat may have been killed by radioactive polonium.

A Swiss team conducted tests after his corpse was exhumed last November and their tests “moderately support” claims that he was poisoned with polonium-210.

Arafat's wife Suha said: "We have scientific proof that this man was killed.” She added that the report published in Al Jazeera revealed a “real crime” and a “political assassination.”

Doctors have previously said that he suffered from heart attack. However, French prosecutors opened a murder investigation in August 2012 after traces of polonium-210 were found on his belongings.

British forensic scientist Professor David Barclay said: "In my opinion, it is absolutely certain that the cause of his illness was polonium poisoning. The levels present in him are sufficient to have caused death."

He added that a miniscule dose of the deadly isotope may have been slipped into Arafat’s eye drop, food, drink, or toothpaste.

Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, believe that Israel had something to do with it.

He said:  "President Arafat passed away as a victim of an organised terrorist assassination perpetrated by a state ... which was looking to get rid of him.”