The International Criminal Court has thrown out war crimes charges against a Sudanese rebel leader.
Bahar Idriss Abu Garda had faced three charges in connection with a 2007 attack that killed 12 African Union peacekeepers in Sudan's Darfur region.
But in a decision Monday, a three-judge panel at the ICC unanimously dismissed those charges.
The panel said it was "not satisfied" there was sufficient evidence to prosecute Abu Garda, either as a direct or indirect co-perpetrator of the attack.
ICC prosecutors can ask the panel to reinstate the charges if they find additional evidence.
The attack occurred September 29, 2007 in Umm Kadada in North Darfur. ICC prosecutors say a splinter group of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement attacked an AU peacekeeping base, destroying or stealing a large amount of equipment, and killing the dozen peacekeepers.
Abu Garda voluntarily appeared before the ICC in the Netherlands last May to face the charges. He is not in ICC custody.
