Criminal investigators from France will exhume Yasir Arafat's remains next month in order to examine the cause of his death.

The move to re-examine the circumstances surrounding the Palestinian leader’s death comes after a Swiss lab discovered traces of a deadly radioactive isotope on his clothes.

These findings revived the Palestinians' suspicion that his death in November 2004 was as a result of poisoning.

The procedure will take place at the end of November in the West Bank city of Ramallah. According to Palestinian officials, French and Swiss officials are to visit the grave together but will only be allowed one chance to take samples.