Russian experts rule out radiation poisoning in Arafat death

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (right) and then outgoing Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel Meguid join hands at the League's headquarters in Cairo on May 15, 2001. Russian forensic experts studying the remains of Arafat on Thursday, De
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (right) and then outgoing Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel Meguid join hands at the League's headquarters in Cairo on May 15, 2001. Russian forensic experts studying the remains of Arafat on Thursday, Dec 26, 2013, said the Palestinian leader died a natural death, ruling out radiation poisoning. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian forensic experts studying the remains of Yasser Arafat on Thursday said the Palestinian leader died a natural death, ruling out radiation poisoning.

"We have completed all the studies," said the head of Russia's Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) Vladimir Uiba.

"The person died a natural death and not from radiation," Uiba was quoted as saying by the state RIA Novosti news agency.

Arafat's exhumed remains have been studied by Swiss, French and Russian experts.

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 death.

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