The judges assigned to investigate the case claiming that former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was murdered have closed the case due to lack of evidence, the French Prosecution said Wednesday.

In a statement, the prosecution said the three judges investigating the case agreed there was "not sufficient evidence of an intervention by another party who could have attempted to take his life," according to the statement.

Following the ruling, his widow's lawyers said they would appeal and they would seek the formation of an international investigation committee in case their request was refused.

Arafat died in Paris in November 2004 at the age of 75 following developing stomach pains in the West Bank city of Ramallah. His widow, Suha maintained he was poisoned and levels of radioactive isotope, at least 18 times higher than normal, were found in his remains.

Source: MENA