French scientists have ruled out the possibility Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was poisoned.

News agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) tweeted the update on Tuesday afternoon, reporting that, in the opinion of the forensics experts, he died due to a “generalised infection”.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP that the French results were "not a surprise".

Many Palestinians have accused Israel of being behind his death, something that Israel has always denied.

A report by Swiss scientists last month said tests on Arafat’s bones showed "unexpectely high" level of polonium.

On Tuesday, Tawfiq Tirawi, a Palestinian investigator, told Palestine Today television that he would name the people he believed to be responsible for Mr Arafat's death.

He said: "I promise that the next press conference will be the last and will cast into the light of day everyone who perpetrated, took part in or conspired in the matter," Reuters reported.