Villepin accuses Sarkozy of conducting vendetta against him

FORMER French prime minister Dominique de Villepin yesterday accused president Nicholas Sarkozy of conducting a vendetta against him.

He hit out after being cleared of running a smear campaign against Sarkozy following a long-running court case.

But a state prosecutor said Sarkozy would appeal the verdict.

Jean-Claude Marin said the court’s decision was “surprising”. He had recommended an 18-month suspended sentence and a fine of €50,000 for Villepin.

Marin added that an appeal could be heard in late 2010 or early 2011.