Palestinian president approves Yasser Arafat autopsy

Yasser Arafat prepares to leave Ramallah in October 2004 to fly to Paris for treatment for what was then an unknown illness (AFP/Getty Images)

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has given his permission to exhume the remains of his predecessor Yasser Arafat, a top aide said.

The decision came days after a Swiss institute found elevated traces of a radioactive agent reportedly on Mr Arafat's belongings, reviving speculation the former Palestinian leader was poisoned.

The institute said it needs to test Mr Arafat's remains for conclusive findings, and Mr Abbas has said he is willing to allow an autopsy in principle.

Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said today that Mr Abbas has now given final approval and is inviting the Swiss experts to test the remains. Mr Erekat said "we are on the way to an autopsy".

Earlier today, Mr Arafat's nephew said he does not believe further testing is needed. It was not clear whether the nephew would block an autopsy.

The ex-Palestinian leader died on November 11 2004 in a French military hospital, a month after falling violently ill at his government compound in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The Institute of Radiation Physics has said it would need to examine Mr Arafat's remains for conclusive findings, though a clear-cut outcome is not assured because of the decay of the substance, polonium-210, over the years. Last week, Mr Abbas said he was willing, in principle, to allow an autopsy, provided he receives permission from religious authorities and Mr Arafat's family.

Mr Arafat was buried in a mausoleum that has become the centrepiece of the Ramallah compound where Mr Abbas's headquarters are located. The exhumation would create a huge spectacle that could upset some devout Muslims, though there seems to be a widespread desire among Palestinians to determine the cause of death.

Mr Erekat said a Palestinian medical expert would contact the Swiss institute later today or on Tuesday to offer the invitation. Mr Erekat said an autopsy could be conducted as soon as the Swiss team arrives. There was no immediate comment from the institute.

Mr Arafat's widow, Suha, has repeatedly called for exhuming the remains. She worked closely with the Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera, which conducted an investigation into Mr Arafat's death and received permission from her to submit her husband's belongings for testing. The top Muslim cleric in the Palestinian territories has also given his blessing to exhuming the remains.

However, Mr Arafat's nephew, Nasser al-Kidwa, has been cool on the idea of an autopsy but signalled he will not stand in the way.

"Our belief was always that it was an unusual death, and most likely he (Mr Arafat) was poisoned. Now all indications say he was poisoned," Mr al-Kidwa told AP.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr al-Kidwa would or could block attempts to exhume the remains. Mr al-Kidwa, a former Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, heads the Yasser Arafat Foundation and is the custodian of Mr Arafat's memory.

Mr Erekat suggested that Mr Abbas was firm in his decision to move forward.

AP