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Yasser Arafat's body exhumed in murder inquiry

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    Late Palestinian leader's remains tested for poison

  • Duration 4:37
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-- medical experts from three countries today opened at the tomb.

Of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

To test his remains.

And determine whether somebody poisons him.

Of course they believe that somebody would be Israel.

Yasser Arafat died mysteriously back in 2004 at the time doctor said he died of a stroke.

But there have been persistent rumors and conspiracy theories to lower that Israeli secret agents assassinated him with a radioactive poison.

The Israeli government has denied any involvement in his death.

Eight years ago Palestinians launched an investigation but it stalled.

Until a Swiss firm just this summer reported in discovered a sophisticated poison called.

Polonium 210.

On Arafat's clothing.

David Lee Miller is a lot is live force in Jerusalem -- more but this is likely the investigation.

That will solve this it doesn't much look like.

Well you Michael this Ramallah CSI.

It's possible this investigation is going to us solve the mystery but many say it's a long shot.

Remember that many Palestinians.

Want this investigation to take place among them.

The widow of Yasser Arafat.

This is a very sensitive matter nevertheless the exhumation took place this morning behind blue tarps that were set up in order to keep away prying eyes as well as TV cameras.

And the issue polonium was first raised by scientists who were working actually on a TV documentary.

And they say they sat down to not only on Arafat's clothing but his personal items as well such as his toothbrush in his head start.

The problem that investigators face though is that polonium -- very quickly in as little as three years.

Arafat has been dead for eight.

There's a great deal of uncertainty whether this investigation is going to prove anything -- you don't need much polonium to get your deadly deed done.

You sure don't it is extremely.

Deadly.

The quantity as small as a grain of salt can kill you.

Now you can actually pass through your skin but if it is ingested it can harm your.

Bodily organs DNA and the immune system.

And as you mentioned remember Arafat became sick in October of 2004 at that time no explanation was offered.

His official cause of death in a French hospital says stroke.

But polonium could be the underlying cause the results we're told -- gonna take at least three months.

And in case you're wondering finding polonium.

Is extremely rare.

One place you'll find it.

Is a nuclear research reactor so in fact if polonium was used for the next question is how did the killers obtain.

Trevor David Lee Miller live in Jerusalem for us so well how -- the team of medical experts -- about this investigation.

Joining us now doctor doctor Howard -- he's an intensive care physician at university hospitals of Cleveland case medical center doctor good afternoon thank you.

Good afternoon seemed to me this that make sense from the very beginning for just this reason.

It -- -- had a ninety -- half life goes away completely in three years it's been eight years so what are they doing.

And it's that's a good question except it's in the if you.

Say that it there was 250000.

Particles applaud him in his body when he died there's one left now.

So it's it's a good chance -- -- -- accepting his highly unlikely and even if they do we really don't know how much it was originally and did it play a role.

In his death because polonium is is is found in the Earth's crust so it's all around us but it very very small.

-- and to finds it in very small quantities on his body would be a telling thing or not.

It to death and how much they find they're gonna have to test the soil around where he was Barry to see if there it is -- -- from the soil.

So -- -- a lot depends on what the quantities what the qualities are around the casket what would you explain to me if you if you know that.

These these scientists said they now have a way to figure out -- today here.

That was in the U as of this summer and what to do about it what what are you know of that.

There's it it -- unlike uranium which we could detect but the Geiger counter.

Polonium.

Sort of emits alpha.

Particles and and they have new equipment now that can really -- be very sensitive detect very low levels of alpha particles.

And -- and it's that that brings -- to this point.

I think so I mean they they they just dug up the exude the -- president of Turkey.

-- got knows that after him but wouldn't longer time than.

Arafat has been dead and they found polonium in his body as well this has happened just last month.

Airman from university hospitals case medical center sir thank you.

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