Arafat's body to be exhumed for causes of death tests

RAMALLAH: Yasser Arafat's grave will be opened on Tuesday to take samples from his remains as part of the investigation into the causes for his death, said Tawfiq Tirawi, head of committee investigating the death of Yasser Arafat.

He said in a press conference in Ramallah that "we are positive that Israel had assassinated Arafat."

Tirawi pointed out that no media will be granted access to the grave when Swiss, French and Russian experts take samples from the remains.

A military ceremony will be held when returning Arafat's remains to the grave, he said.

He said there is no exact time when the results of the tests will be issued, stressing that according to the Swiss team the radioactive material, polonium, found earlier on Arafat's cloths, remains as the cause for Arafat's poisoning.