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Friday, October 29, 2004

French Jewish families demand Arafat interrogation

PARIS, Oct 29 (AFP) - The relatives of six French citizens killed in Palestinian attacks in Israel several years ago have called for French authorities to question Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat while he receives treatment in Paris for a serious medical condition.

A lawyer for the families, Michel Calvo, told AFP that they were going to ask France's top anti-terrorist investigating magistrate, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, to interrogate Arafat 'as soon as his physical situation allows'.

Arafat was expected to arrive at a military airport outside the French capital later Friday for treatment of what one of his doctors said was a potentially fatal blood disorder.

Calvo has been representing a claim against persons unknown for murder for six attacks that occurred in Israel between 1996 and 2002.
The lawsuits were lodged by French families who live in the Jewish state and lost relatives in the attacks.

Five of the deaths happened in suicide bombings in Jerusalem over that period, while the sixth was a sniper attack in Hebron in March 2001."