Medical records show Arafat died from stroke

A MASSIVE stroke caused by an infection killed longtime Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat last year, though it remains unclear what led to the rapid deterioration of his health.

This is according to French medical records kept secret since his death.

The records, from the military hospital outside Paris where Mr Arafat died and obtained yesterday by The Associated Press, offered the first independent glimpse into his final days after months of questions and controversy - from rumours that he died of AIDS to Palestinian accusations the Israelis poisoned him.