Trial Beween French President Sarkozy, Former Pm De Villepin Ends

Former French PM Dominique de Villepin reacts at the Paris courthouse, for the slander trial involving alleged dirty tricks by top politicians and businessmen, 23 Oct 2009A high-profile trial has wrapped up in France Friday pitting two bitterpolitical rivals - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and former primeminister Dominique de Villepin, who stands accused of participating ina smear campaign against Mr. Sarkozy five years ago.

Known as the "Clearstream affair,"the trial has riveted France. It ended Friday and the verdict isexpected in late January. Prosecutors demanded an 18-month suspendedsentence against the most high-profile defendent - former primeminister Dominique de Villepin. He also faces a $70,000 fine if foundguilty of slander and complicity to use forgery, among other charges.

Thecase is a tangled one, involving a number of prominent defendentsand plaintiffs, including President Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr. Sarkozy andMr. de Villepin are longterm rivals. The prosecution claims Mr. deVillepin conspired to discredit Mr. Sarkozy by implicating him in abogus list of people who allegedly received kickbacks in an arms deal.

Theaffair erupted when both Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. de Villepin were vying tosucceed former president Jacques Chirac as head of state.

Mr.de Villepin claims he is innocent and has accused Mr. Sarkozy ofhanging him "from a butcher's hook." His lawyer, Olivier Metzner, hasoffered a passionate defense of his client.

Metzner toldreporters the trial is based on pure fabrication and the dossieragainst Mr. de Villepin is empty. Mr. de Villepin, he said, is beingblamed for having done nothing.

One thing is certain - the trial has cast a shadow on France's political elite, regardless of what verdict is delivered.