THE TELEGRAPH: Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, was the victim of a smear campaign by his predecessor Jacques Chirac and former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, new evidence suggested yesterday.
The alleged plot was directed against Mr Sarkozy when he was interior minister in 2004, at a time when his two superiors were desperate to quash his presidential ambitions.
The fresh evidence, recovered by computer experts from the hard disc of a laptop belonging to a retired spymaster, could lead to Mr de Villepin being placed under official investigation.
It also stood to further tarnish Mr Chirac's legacy even though he cannot be questioned about the case because he was president when the events took place. Files 'expose Chirac plot to smear Sarkozy' (more) By Henry Samuel in Paris
Mark Alexander
