A South African court has ruled that a corruption case against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma cannot go ahead.

He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a 1999 arms deal.

A judge in Pietermaritzburg said there was reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated.

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The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Pietermaritzburg said hundreds of people braved the very cold wintry and drizzly night and have been singing and chanting in Zulu "vuli ndlela", which loosely translated, means open the door.

Their message was that the Supreme Court should leave the way open for Mr Zuma to become president next year by dropping the case.

Tension

The charges against the African National Congress (ANC) leader related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totalling 30bn rand ($5bn; £2.5bn) to modernise its national defence force.

The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa.

In 2005, Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the deal.

He then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.

He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader in what his allies say was a political conspiracy to prevent him becoming president.

Elections are due to be held in April or May 2009.

Tension was raised this week, following the publication of a cartoon showing Mr Zuma about to rape a figure labelled "Lady Justice" - a reference to the criticism of judges by Mr Zuma's supporters.

"We will eliminate any forces that come our way," ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said on Wednesday, according to local media.

In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.

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(BBC)

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