World IN BRIEF : COLOMBIA : Samper Corruption Charges Shelved

A congressional panel dropped its investigation of President Ernesto Samper, saying it didn’t have evidence that he personally authorized the use of $6 million in drug traffickers’ money to win last year’s election. The widely expected ruling by the Commission of Accusations, which is dominated by Samper’s Liberal Party, means Samper has defeated efforts to oust him--at least for now. But it does not mean he has been absolved, lawmakers said. Opposition politicians called the ruling a whitewash even before it was announced and said they will continue demanding that the president step down.