Chirac defends role in cash-for-trips scandal

French President Jacques Chirac has said cash payments for luxury trips when he was Paris mayor were "perfectly legal" and made in cash for "reasons of discretion and security".

In his first public comments on the allegations, Mr Chirac tried to take the offensive, calling in a live TV interview for a freeze on the system of so-called "secret funds", which are at the disposal of prime ministers and not subject to any oversight.