Iraqi Court Drops Charges Against Health Ministry Officials

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi court dropped charges yesterday against two former Health Ministry officials accused of allowing Shiite death squads to use ambulances and government hospitals to carry out kidnappings and killings.

The three-judge panel cited a lack of evidence in its decision, which came despite serious reports of witness intimidation.

Minority Sunnis have viewed the case as a major test of the judiciary in this Shiite-dominated country, and the ruling was likely to hurt American efforts to promote national reconciliation between the Muslim sects.

A lawmaker with Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi's Sunni Islamic Party called the decision a "betrayal of the Iraqi judicial system."

"We do believe that all the eyewitnesses were under the influence of blackmail, threats and fears," Ziyad al-Ani told The Associated Press.

America reserved judgment on the ruling.