RAMALLAH, November 27, 2012 (WAFA) – Swiss, French and Russian forensic experts took samples from the remains of the late leader Yasser Arafat on Tuesday morning without having to remove the corpse from the grave, according to a statement by Tawfiq Tirawi, head of the official committee investigating Arafat’s death.

“Procedures to take samples from the corpse of the martyr Yasser Arafat went as planned,” said the statement. “The Russian, French and Swiss experts took the required samples from the corpse without having to remove the remains from its place and with the approval of all the experts,” it added.

As a result, said Tirawi, reburial ceremonies have been canceled and officials from the PLO Executive Committee and other leaders will lay wreath at his grave after closing it.

Tirawi and members of the committee will also hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. instead of the previous 5:00 p.m. to talk about the exhumation.

M.S./F.R.