De Villepin takes stand in Clearstream trial

Dominique de Villepin, the former French prime minister, began to give evidence on the 30 September 2009 in his trial for conspiracy to smear the name of Nicolas Sarkozy in an alleged bid to wreck the political career of his arch rival, now the French president.

France24, 19.10.09: Sarkozy’s lawyer delivers closing arguments http://www.france24.com/en/20091019-sarkozy%E2%80%99-lawyer-delivers-closing-arguments

BBC News, 23.10.09: Major French smear trial closes http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8322810.stm

France24, 23.10.09: Sarkozy slander trial ends, verdict due January 28 http://www.france24.com/en/20091023-sarkozy-slander-trial-ends-verdict-due-jan-28-clearstream

ESO: Background information: De Villepin attacks Sarkozy ‘vindictiveness’ http://www.europeansources.info/record/de-villepin-attacks-sarkozy-vindictiveness/

France24, 30.9.09: Sarkozy's name 'never came up' at pivotal meeting, says de Villepin http://www.france24.com/en/20090930-sarkozy-de-villepin-clearstream-politics-justice-court-fraud-france

France24, 22.10.09: Court enters final day of proceedings http://www.france24.com/en/20091022-court-enters-final-day-proceedings-0?autoplay=1

BBC News, 20.10.09: No jail request for French ex-PM http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8317205.stm

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