* Four-year-old legal battle comes to an end
* Critics say president has tried to muzzle media
* Zuma’s office worried about limiting free speech
(Adds comment from Zuma’s office)
By Jon Herskovitz
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 28 (Reuters) – South African President
Jacob Zuma intends to drop a four-year-old lawsuit claiming
nearly $600,000 in damages from a cartoonist who depicted him
poised to rape “Lady Justice”, his office said on Sunday.
The Sunday Times, named as a defendant in the case, also
said it had reached agreement with Zuma’s lawyers for the suit
and all claims to be ended.
“The president … would like to avoid setting a legal
precedent that may have the effect of limiting the public
exercise of free speech, with the unforeseen consequences this
may have on our media, public commentators and citizens,” his
office said in a statement.
It added that it still saw the cartoon as an affront to the
dignity of the president.
The civil case had been due to start on Monday. Under the
settlement, Zuma will pay part of the legal costs of the
defendants, his office said.
Continued…
