Doctors could not determine the cause of Arafat death.

Medical records of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat appear to show that doctors could not determine the underlying cause of his death.

The records, obtained by the New York Times newspaper, say that Arafat died from a stroke that stemmed from an unknown condition. But Israeli newspaper Haaretz says the records point to him dying from poisoning, Aids or an infection.

Yasser Arafat died on 11 November 2004 at a French military hospital. Both newspapers say the records, which have been withheld by senior Palestinian officials and Mr Arafat's widow until now, show that doctors could not agree on the cause of the 75-year-old's death.

The New York Times says the records show that it was highly unlikely that Mr Arafat died from poisoning or Aids. It reported that the actual infection that led to the stroke that caused late Palestinian leaders death was still a mystery. Another senior Israeli doctor quoted by Haaretz describes the death as "a classic case of food poisoning."

Speculation on the cause of Arafat's death has continued with many Palestinians believing that he was poisoned by Israel. Yasser Arafat's nephew, Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa, has said the late Palestinian leader's medical file does not allay suspicions that he may have died of "unnatural causes". But senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the French doctors should publish their report in full to put an end to the rumours, BBC News reports.