Ex-Dominican president vindicated

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic has quashed a conviction against the former president, Salvador Jorge Blanco on charges of corruption.

Mr Jorge was president of the Dominican Republic from 1982 to 1986.

But after leaving office, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of embezzling millions of dollars in state funds.

He has always maintained his innocence and has claimed he was the victim of political persecution by his successor, Joaquin Balaguer.

After the ruling was announced, Mr Jorge said he felt as if he had woken up from a long nightmare.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service