Swiss scientists confirm Yasser Arafat poisoned with radioactive polonium

Swiss radiation experts have confirmed they found traces of polonium on clothing used by slain former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, which support the possibility that he was poisoned.

In a report published by The Lancet, the team provided scientific details that they had found polonium on Arafat's belongings.

Arafat died in France on November 11, 2004 at the age of 75, but doctors were unable to specify the cause of death.

According to news.com.au, his remains were later exhumed in November 2012 and samples taken to investigate whether he had been poisoned.

The investigation is ongoing, conducted separately by teams in France, Switzerland and Russia.

In the Lancet report, eight scientists working at the Institute of Radiation Physics and University Centre of Legal Medicine in Lausanne said they had carried out radiological tests on 75 samples, the report said.

Thirty-eight samples came from Arafat's belongings, including underwear, a shapka hat, toothbrush, a hospital cap and sportswear, which were provided by Arafat's widow Suha.

The report said that Arafat's clinical symptoms 'could not rule out' polonium poisoning.