Criminal case dropped against US governor

The criminal invasion of privacy case against Missouri's governor was suddenly dropped Monday, just days before a trial was scheduled to begin in the Midwestern US state on a criminal charge tied to an extra-marital affair.

St Louis prosecutor Kimberly Gardner dropped the felony case against Governor Eric Greitens even as jury selection was underway ahead of the trial, which had been due to start later this week.

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The circuit attorney's office said its move was precipitated by the trial judge's decision to allow the governor's defense attorneys to call the lead prosecutor in the case as a trial witness.

The defense team has accused the prosecution of wrongdoing during the investigation.

"The court's order leaves the circuit attorney no adequate means of proceeding with this trial," read a statement from Gardner's office.