Palestinian minister steps aside to fight charges

The Palestinian economics minister on Tuesday said he was suspending himself from office in order to battle corruption charges.

Hassan Abu Libdeh, who holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, is set to go on trial on Dec. 12, according to chief public prosecutor Ahmed Mughanni. In a statement, Abu Libdeh professed his innocence and vowed to defend himself "before the judiciary against these false accusations." (AP)