Magistrate calls for Chirac trial

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Source: BBC News

Former French President Jacques Chirac has been ordered to stand trial on corruption charges, officials say.

A magistrate ordered the trial over alleged false contracts dating from Mr Chirac's time as Paris mayor.

The 76-year-old served as the capital's mayor from 1977 until he was elected president in 1995.

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It is alleged millions of euros were used to provide bogus jobs to political associates and their relatives.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8333352.stm

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1. Jacques Chirac: former French president charged with embezzlement

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6465773/Jacques-Chirac-former-French-president-charged-with-embezzlement.html

The unprecedented move against a former French head of state was ordered by Xaviere Simeoni, a Paris magistrate.

A statement from Mr Chirac's office said he and nine others were charged with a role in awarding 21 contracts for non-existent jobs, which the former French leader denies. The statement described him as "serene".

The charges investigated by Judge Simeoni related to 35 work contracts allegedly awarded by Paris city hall as favours to friends or associates of Mr Chirac's political camp. She concluded that 21 out of the 35 were for non-existent jobs.

The statement from Mr Chirac's office said he was "determined to demonstrate to the tribunal that none of the contracts that are still in debate were for non-existent jobs".