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Zuma's corruption trial collapses Zuma's corruption trial collapses
(10 minutes later)
Corruption charges against former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma have been dismissed - boosting his chances of running for president.Corruption charges against former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma have been dismissed - boosting his chances of running for president.
The judge threw out the case after the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed, setting off celebrations by Mr Zuma's supporters in the courtroom.The judge threw out the case after the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed, setting off celebrations by Mr Zuma's supporters in the courtroom.
Mr Zuma was sacked last year in connection with a 1999 arms deal. He was cleared of rape earlier this year.Mr Zuma was sacked last year in connection with a 1999 arms deal. He was cleared of rape earlier this year.
The state's case had "limped from one disaster to another", said the judge.The state's case had "limped from one disaster to another", said the judge.
He said he could not allow the prosecution to delay the case as it had requested and threw the case out. The state blamed the defence for delaying tactics. Judge Herbert Msimang said he could not allow the prosecution to delay the case as it had requested and threw it out. The state blamed the defence for delaying tactics.
PoliticsPolitics
Mr Zuma and his co-accused, French arms firm Thint, were charged in connection with a bribe allegedly paid to Mr Zuma. Mr Zuma was sacked from the government more than a year ago when his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of corruption in a case that arose from a government arms procurement deal in the 1990s.
Mr Zuma always maintained that the case was aimed at sidelining him politically. Zuma's supporters have appeared during his court appearances
Unless another case is brought against him Mr Zuma will be free to contest next year for the leadership of the governing African National Congress Party, ANC. The judge said there had been a generally corrupt relationship between Mr Shaik and Mr Zuma, and evidence given in Mr Shaik's trial prompted the National Prosecuting Authority to start investigating charges against Mr Zuma.
Should he take that position he would be a firm favourite to succeed Thabo Mbeki as the next South African president. Although the investigation prompted President Mbeki to relieve Mr Zuma of his duties as deputy president, he kept his position as deputy leader of the ANC.
He first appeared in connection with the corruption allegations in the Durban magistrate's court in October last year, and prosecutors spent the intervening period collecting and examining evidence.
Late last year, Mr Zuma was accused of rape by the daughter of a family friend, giving rise to a separate trial, in which he was acquitted.
Mr Zuma always maintained that the cases were aimed at sidelining him politically.
Unless another case is brought against him, Mr Zuma will be free to contest next year for the leadership of the governing African National Congress Party, ANC.
Should he take that position he would be a firm favourite to succeed Thabo Mbeki as the next South African president in 2009.