Prosecutors in South Africa have announced they are dropping corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma.
Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe said phone-tap evidence suggested political interference in the investigation.
Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations of graft, racketeering and money-laundering in connection to a multimillion dollar arms deal in 1999.
He is expected to become president after general elections on 22 April.
The BBC's Alexis Akwagyiram says the ANC office in Polokwane greeted with jubilation the decision, which was broadcast live on radio and television.
Secret recordings
The chief prosecutor said the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) had obtained recordings of phone conversations which suggested the timing of the decision to charge Mr Zuma in 2007 had been manipulated.
"I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma," Mr Mphse said.
"It is a difficult decision because the NPA has expended considerable resources on this matter, and it has been conducted by a committed and dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators who have handled a difficult case with utmost professionalism and who have not been implicated in any misconduct," added Mr Mpshe.
The chief prosecutor read out transcripts of recorded conversations between former NPA head Bulelani Ngcuka and Leonard McCarthy, the man who led the now disbanded anti-corruption unit known as the Scorpions.
Mr Mpshe said the pair had discussed timing charges against Mr Zuma to cause political damage.
"Mr McCarthy used the legal process for a purpose outside and extraneous to the prosecution itself," he said. "It was pure abuse of process," Mr Mpshe added.
Mr Zuma was first charged in 2005, but has never faced trial.
The charges were dropped the following year, but he was recharged 10 days after he defeated former South African President Thabo Mbeki in elections to be the ANC's leader in December 2007.
Last year a judge ruled that there had been political meddling in the case, but the NPA successfully appealed.
With only a few months to go to the elections, Mr Zuma then lodged a legal request for the charges to be reviewed.
There is expected to be an outcry from other political parties to the news.
They have previously condemned any move to drop proceedings against the ANC leader, saying it would be a clear interference in the judiciary by the government.
Earlier, opposition Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told the BBC: "If the charges are just dropped when there is no trial it seems to me the stink of what they accused him of will not go away."
South Africa will hold presidential elections on 22 April.
