Chirac agrees deal in Paris corruption probe

THE city of Paris pulled out of a corruption case against former French president Jacques Chirac yesterday after he agreed to pay €2.2 million lost to municipal funds because of a financing scandal while he was mayor.

Chirac, 77, is facing trial on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust stemming from the scandal dating back to his 1977-1995 run as Paris mayor. The case marks the first time a former leader of modern France has been forced to stand trial.

The deal does not close the case, but it will remove the last plaintiff other than the state, and could take some of the courtroom pressure off Chirac when he goes to trial in late 2010 or early 2011.