JOHANNESBURG, South Africa ? The top prosecutor said Sunday that she is withdrawing murder charges against 270 miners in the deaths of 34 striking co-workers who were shot and killed by South African police.
The announcement followed a barrage of criticism from political parties, trade unions and legal experts. Even the justice minister had challenged the prosecutor's decision to charge the miners under an apartheid-era law.
Nomgcobo Jiba, the acting director of public prosecutions, said the miners would be released from jail with a warning, provided police could verify their home addresses.
She said other charges, ranging from public violence and illegal gathering to illegal possession of firearms, would remain, but the cases were being postponed. A judicial commission of inquiry is to report to South African President Jacob Zuma by January.
Most of the 270 miners were arrested Aug. 16 after police opened fire on striking miners. Police said they acted in self-defense.
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