The French government has agreed to open an inquiry into the death of Yasser Arafat, eight years since he died after claims that he died from Polonium poisoning.

Arafat seen here arriving in Belgium on a military helicopter for treatment later died of a supposed massive However, his widow, Suha, and daughter Zawra have consistently claimed that he was poisoned, possibly by Israeli agents. At the request of the Arafat family The Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland, found high levels of the radioactive element polonium-210 on Arafat's clothing. Which was the same substance used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. Arafat, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was 75 years old when he died.

The Palestinian authority welcomed the move saying, "we hope the French investigation will satisfy our desire for truth, and that there will be a serious investigation to reveal the whole truth."

And in response to the news, The Arafat family, said they were "happy" with the decision but would not comment further "so as to leave the judges to lead all investigations necessary to find the truth."

Written and presented by Ann Salter