A Turkish court dropped charges against internationally acclaimed novelist Orhan Pamuk today, NTV television reported, ending a high-profile trial that outraged European Union officials and sparked questions over Turkey’s commitment to free speech.

Turkey’s Cabinet was today discussing whether to drop charges against novelist Orhan Pamuk – a case the European Union has criticised as a threat to freedom of expression.

Turkey’s Justice Minister Cemil Cicek criticised EU officials today for pressuring Turkey to stop a freedom of expression case against renowned author Orhan Pamuk, but hinted that a court could drop the case.

A judge halted the trial of Turkey’s best-known novelist today, saying the Justice Ministry must first approve the explosive legal case that raises questions about Turkey’s commitment to free speech.

The presiding judge in the trial of Orhan Pamuk, Turkey’s best-known novelist, ordered a halt in the trial shortly after it opened today, citing questions over whether a new law making it a crime to insult the national identity could be applied to the novelist’s case.

A TURKISH writer won the world’s richest literary prize yesterday for a Byzantine whodunnit set in 16th century Istanbul.