Brazil drops plan to fine prosecutors

The Brazilian government has announced that it is dropping plans to fine public prosecutors who make unfounded allegations against public officials.

Under an anti-slander law brought in by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso last month, prosecutors could be fined the equivalent of two years' wages around 80,000 dollars for making such claims.

Prosecutors complained that he was trying to obstruct investigations into wrong-doing at high levels.

Mr Cardoso conceded in a television interview today that the fine was a bad idea, but insisted that officials needed protection against prosecutors who accused first and investigated later.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service