Ex-French leader accused of "receiving money from Gaddafi"

LONDON There is documentary proof that the former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has received more than EUR 50mn from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. This is according to an article in the British newspaper Independent, which is citing sources close to a French investigative judge. Ex-French leader accused of "receiving money from Gaddafi" The London daily states that a businessman of Lebanese origin, Ziad Takieddine, who was in the past two decades responsible for various types of transactions between France and the Middle East, told the French judge that Sarkozy received money from Gaddafi and that the total figure was 50 million. This same claim was first made in 2011 by one of the sons of the deposed and slain Libyan leader, Saif al-Islam, just before the fall of the regime in Tripoli. The toppling of the Gaddafi regime was contributed to by French and British air-strikes. Takieddine allegedly told the judge that he could show him documentary evidence that Sarkozy's first presidential campaign in 2006 and 2007 was largely funded by Tripoli. According to him, the payments continued when Sarkozy became president of France. Sources close to Sarkozy dismissed the allegations as "disgraceful", the article says. The Lebanese businessman is under investigation on suspicion that he was involved in arms trade, for which he was taking commissions, including the sale of French arms to Saudi Arabia. Takieddine has admitted that the allegations made against Sarkozy's were part of a deal he had reached with the French prosecution. His allegations can cause "earthquakes" in the French political scene, since the Middle Eastern businessman had close business and friendly ties not only with the former president, but also with other prominent French politicians, including the current leader of the UMP party Jean-Francois Cope. Sarkozy's UMP in 2007 had already been exposed to charges of illegally taking money for the campaign from France's richest woman, Lillian Betancourt. Earlier, the French news website Mediapart also reported that Nicolas Sarkozy received EUR 50mn for his 2007 campaign from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. This information appeared in the spring of 2012, during the height of the presidential election campaign. Sarkozy has denied the allegations and announced lawsuits against those who spread the information. Nicolas Sarkozy (Tanjug, file) B92 Tanjug

Ex-French leader accused of "receiving money from Gaddafi"

The London daily states that a businessman of Lebanese origin, Ziad Takieddine, who was in the past two decades responsible for various types of transactions between France and the Middle East, told the French judge that Sarkozy received money from Gaddafi and that the total figure was 50 million.

This same claim was first made in 2011 by one of the sons of the deposed and slain Libyan leader, Saif al-Islam, just before the fall of the regime in Tripoli. The toppling of the Gaddafi regime was contributed to by French and British air-strikes.

Takieddine allegedly told the judge that he could show him documentary evidence that Sarkozy's first presidential campaign in 2006 and 2007 was largely funded by Tripoli.

According to him, the payments continued when Sarkozy became president of France. Sources close to Sarkozy dismissed the allegations as "disgraceful", the article says.

The Lebanese businessman is under investigation on suspicion that he was involved in arms trade, for which he was taking commissions, including the sale of French arms to Saudi Arabia.

Takieddine has admitted that the allegations made against Sarkozy's were part of a deal he had reached with the French prosecution.

His allegations can cause "earthquakes" in the French political scene, since the Middle Eastern businessman had close business and friendly ties not only with the former president, but also with other prominent French politicians, including the current leader of the UMP party Jean-Francois Cope.

Sarkozy's UMP in 2007 had already been exposed to charges of illegally taking money for the campaign from France's richest woman, Lillian Betancourt.

Earlier, the French news website Mediapart also reported that Nicolas Sarkozy received EUR 50mn for his 2007 campaign from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. This information appeared in the spring of 2012, during the height of the presidential election campaign.

Sarkozy has denied the allegations and announced lawsuits against those who spread the information.