CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST GAY SOLDIERS

Two gay soldiers who hoped to call President Obama as a witness in their trial have had the charges against them dropped.

Lt. Dan Choi and Captain Jim Pietrangelo were arrested on charges of “failure to obey a lawful order” after they twice chained themselves to the White House fence in protest against the US military ban on LGBT personnel.

Prosecutors last week dropped the charges after concluding that the men had in fact not broken the law as the offence of refusing to move when blocking pedestrian traffic only applies to people standing on a pavement, while the men were in fact standing on a ledge at the time of their arrest.

“Victory for truth today! Government drops case against us,” tweeted Choi in response to the news.

Choi and Pietrangelo have repeatedly criticised President Obama for his slow efforts in repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gay and lesbian soldiers.