The trial of Orhan Pamuk was supposed to get going today. The courtroom in Instanbul was packed with supporters, and prosecutors were supposed to state their case against the celebrated author, who was arrested based on a single comment printed in a magazine earlier this year. Except, it didn't:

The trial of acclaimed Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk on charges of insulting his nation, has been suspended minutes after his first court appearance.

An Istanbul judge said the prosecution could not proceed until it had been approved by the ministry of justice.

The next hearing was set for 7 February 2006.

The minister's permission is being sought because of a dispute over whether Mr Pamuk is to be tried under Turkey's old penal code or a recent, revised version.

Mr Pamuk's lawyers have argued that his comments predate the new law criminalising any insult to the Turkish state and he must therefore be tried under the old code.

The justice minister must now give his ruling.

Of course, you have to wonder, couldn't they have figured this out ages ago and spared everyone the circus-like atmosphere? But I guess 11th hour tactics are just more entertaining, or nerve-wracking, or something...