2004年に死去したパレスチナ自治政府のアラファト前議長の遺体から、放射性物質のポロニウムが検出されたと中東の衛星テレビ局アルジャジーラが伝えている。アラファト前議長が暗殺された可能性が高まった。
スイスのローザンヌ大学病院にある放射線物理学研究所の科学者チームがアラファト氏の遺体からサンプルを取り出し検査したところ、少なくとも通常レベルの18倍にあたるポロニウムが検出された。研究機関によると、83%の確率でアラファト氏が毒殺されたと確信しており、死因としてポロニウムが「適度な支援」を果たしたとしている。
CBSニュースによると、今回の調査はアラファト氏の妻スーハさんの要望に応じてアルジャジーラが主導し、ローザンヌ大学病院の研究チームが遺体を検査した。チームにはほかにフランスとロシアも加わり、これまで公表されていなかった。
SKYニュースによると、スーハさんはアルジャジーラの取材に対してアラファト氏の死去が「真の犯罪」であり、「政治的な暗殺」であると述べている。
「私たちはアラファトが殺されたという科学的な証拠を得ました」とスーハさんは付け加えた。
アラファト氏はパレスチナ解放機構(PLO)の指導者。エルサレム生まれ。1969年にPLO議長に就任し、イスラエルとの間でパレスチナ人の暫定自治を実現させ、1994年ノーベル平和賞を受賞した。
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