French PM questioned in smear scandal investigation

Judges were today questioning the French prime minister over his role in a suspected scheme to smear presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy and other French personalities.

The so-called Clearstream affair has been among France's biggest political dramas of 2006, involving cooked-up allegations that Sarkozy had secret bank accounts and a veteran spy who was tasked with probing whether there was any truth to the claims.

Among the key questions has been what prime minister Dominique de Villepin knew about the accusations and when, and whether he kept the probe going long after it became clear that Sarkozy had been unjustly accused.

The affair helped to poison relations between Sarkozy and Villepin, who work together in the centre-right government, and has played into the French presidential election campaign.

Villepin's suspected involvement in the apparent machination hurt his hopes of running. Sarkozy, on the other hand, emerged stronger by positioning himself as a victim of the affair.

Judges were questioning Villepin only as a witness. He has not been charged.

He said earlier this week that he was looking forward to the opportunity to tell him side in a story "where many lies and slanders have been put forward and from which I have suffered over the past few years".

Villepin was expected to give testimony all day. He arrived for questioning shortly before 9am, and did not speak to waiting reporters.