Manuel triumphs over arms deal critic

Manuel has dismissed as sensationalism reports that the country is experiencing an economic slump

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has won a restraining order against arms deal critic Terry Crawford-Browne.

In an interim order, the Cape High Court has ordered Brown not to publish any statements alleging that Manuel is corrupt or that he was involved in criminal activity related to arms purchases.

Crawford-Browne has also been ordered to remove any such comments from his web site. Judge Andre le Grange has found that Crawford-Browne has persistently made defamatory and false allegations about Manuel.

He says Manuel is entitled to protection from the court, pending an application for a permanent order against Crawford-Brown. Manuel has welcomed the judgment.