South Africa's High Court has ruled that a decision to drop 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma should be reviewed.

The charges were dropped just weeks before the 2009 election which led to Zuma becoming president.

Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said the decision by the chief state prosecutor at the time was "irrational".

The case, brought by the opposition Democratic Alliance, opens the way for prosecutors to reinstate the charges.

Zuma always denied the allegations which are linked to a government arms deal in 1999 worth billions of dollars.

"Today is a great victory for the rule of law and ultimately we believe that Jacob Zuma must face prosecution and this judgement certainly affirms the view that we've always held," Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said after the ruling.

"I congratulate my colleagues who've worked exceptionally hard on this case; it's been a long battle."

The BBC's Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says this is latest legal blow for the South African president.

Last month, South Africa's highest court found that he had breached the constitution by failing to repay public money used to upgrade his private home.

It backed an earlier ruling by an anti-corruption body that said $23m (£15m) of public money had been improperly spent on Zuma's rural home in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province.

(BBC)