Arafat body ‘to be exhumed’ for poison tests

Undated file photograph of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, left, along with his deputy Abu Jihad, right, made available by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza City of the Gaza Strip. AP FILE PHOTO

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories — The body of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be exhumed on Tuesday to undergo poison tests, the head of the Palestinian inquiry team said on Saturday.

“The tomb will be opened on November 27 and experts will take samples the same day within a matter of a few hours,” Tawfiq Tirawi told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

He said a reburial ceremony would be held later the same day.