Police cleared of electrocuting youths

Prosecutors want to drop a highly sensitive case against two police officers accused of being responsible for the fatal electrocution of two Parisian teenagers.

Bouna Traore, 15, and Zyed Benna, 17, died in a power substation in the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois in October 2005 while hiding from police. Their deaths set off nationwide riots.

But the local prosecutor's office has submitted a request to drop the charges because of lack of evidence, a judicial official said. It is now up to investigating judges whether to accept that request.

Lawyers for the victims' families said such a move would give police licence to act with impunity.