"We are currently in coordination with the French investigators, the Swiss experts, and also the Russian government to open the tomb," Abbas said in a speech marking the eighth anniversary of Arafat's death.

Palestinian UN non-state bid this month - Abbas

The Palestinians will submit a bid to the General Assembly for non-state membership of the United Nations later this month, president Mahmud Abbas said on Sunday.

"We're going to the United Nations in November 2012, not 2013, or 2014," Abbas said at an event commemorating the eighth anniversary of the death of former president Yasser Arafat.

At present, Palestine is represented in the UN by the Palestine Liberation Organisation which has the observer status. Palestinians are facing pressure and threats but the motherland comes first, Abbas said.

Israel and the US are against the Palestinian National Authority’s plan. Russia supports the Palestinians’ aim to be granted membership in the UN.

Voice of Russia, AFP

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