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4/27/06

Scotsman.com: French PM urges probe as scandal mystery deepens

For the full report go to Scotsman.com or click on this link

French PM urges probe as scandal mystery deepens

PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called on Thursday for a thorough probe of a slow-burning scandal sparked by an alleged plot to smear candidates for the 2007 presidential polls. Villepin's office said the prime minister wanted a full investigation of "slanderous denunciations" of senior public figures that include Nicolas Sarkozy, his interior minister and fierce political rival. The scandal began when anonymous letters were sent to an examining magistrate in 2004 alleging that Sarkozy and a list of senior left- and right-wing politicians held accounts in a Luxembourg-based finance house, Clearstream. Millions of euros were alleged to have transited through the accounts.

The list quickly proved bogus, and the investigation has since concentrated on finding its author.

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