Vitamin Promoter in Hiv Row Drops Libel Suit

Matthias Rath, a German-born vitamin promoter in South Africa, has dropped his libel action against Eric Goemare, the head of Médecins sans Frontières in the country, the Treatment Action Campaign, and an Aids scientist, Jerry Coovadia, who had all accused him of endangering HIV patients' lives.

Dr Rath's publicity campaigns have persuaded people to take vitamin supplements instead of anti retroviral drugs.

MSF and TAC say some have died. One libel suit - against a former education minister, Kadar Asmal, who also criticized Dr Rath - has not been dropped.