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Pietermartitzburg: A South African judge on Friday threw out corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma.
The judge's ruling clears the way for Zuma to become the country's next president.
Judge Chris Nicholson said it was clear there had been political interference in the case, and ordered the state to pay Zuma's legal costs.
Nicholson said he was "not convinced that the applicant (Zuma) was incorrect when he averred political meddling in his prosecution."
Zuma's supporters said he was the victim of a political witch-hunt by his rival, South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Zuma told thousands of supporters outside the court that the judge had said the prosecution was "a political wrangle", against the constitution and unfair.
"This is a lesson that we should never keep quiet when those in power break the law," Zuma said.
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