Arafat widow seeks Palestinian ex-leader’s death probeJuly 31, 2012 - 18:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The widow of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has formally asked for an investigation into his death, claiming he was assassinated amid new suspicions he was poisoned before he died in a French military hospital, Belfast Telegraph said. Earlier this month Palestinian authorities gave final approval for Mr Arafat's body to be exhumed. In recent tests of his belongings requested by his widow and the Arab satellite network Al-Jazeera, a Swiss lab detected elevated traces of polonium-210 - a rare and lethal substance - but said the findings were inconclusive and that Mr Arafat's bones would have to be tested. And questions remain about the results of any additional tests after so long. French doctors have said Mr Arafat died of a massive stroke in 2004 and had suffered from a blood condition. A French judge will still have to decide whether to accept the complaint - also brought on behalf of Suha Arafat's daughter - and open an investigation. The family's lawyer said the request was intended to "establish the truth in honour of their husband and father." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |