The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday decided to withdraw Prevention of Terrorism Act cases against Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko and eight others and a petition to this effect was filed at the POTA court at Poonthamalee.

The decision comes after the May 7, 2004, instruction of the state government to the public prosecutor to consider withdrawal of the cases.

MDMK sources said now it was for the trial court to take a decision on the matter. The next hearing is scheduled for August 26.

Meanwhile, Vaiko, who is on a padayatra, told a TV channel at Virudhunagar that he had not received the details of the petition. He described it as "a final victory for justice".

"We are fighting for freedom of expression. Our democratic fight has succeeded," he said.

Vaiko was arrested under POTA soon after his arrival in Chennai from the United States on July 11, 2002 and taken to Madurai. The others were arrested soon thereafter.

They were held for allegedly speaking in favour of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam at a public meeting at Thirumangalam near Madurai on June 20, 2002.