Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, right, walks out the Paris court after the first day of the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy. AP Photo logo AP Photo 2 months ago

Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, right, walks out the Paris court after the first day of the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

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  1. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, walks out of the Paris courthouse Monday Sept. 21, 2009 in Paris. Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy. The monthlong trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair will also delve into old international arms deals, offshore bank accounts and the French aviation industry.
  2. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, right, walks out the Paris court after the first day of the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
  3. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus' parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, center, and his lawyers Thierry Dalmasso, left, and Paul-Albert Iweins arrive at the Paris court for the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
  4. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, center, and his lawyers Paul-Albert Iweins, right, and Thierry Dalmasso arrive at the Paris court for the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
  5. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, arrives at the Paris court for the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
  6. Key defendant, former vice president at Airbus parent company EADS, Jean-Louis Gergorin, right, and his lawyer Thierry Dalmasso arrive at the Paris court for the trial in the saga known as the Clearstream affair, Monday Sept. 21, 2009. France's former prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, goes on trial Monday on charges he helped perpetuate a smear campaign targeting his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
  7. Henri Leclerc, lawyer of France's former prime minister and foreign minister Dominique de Villepin, arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 23, 2009. France's trial of the decade ends Today after a month of sensational clashes between lawyers for Nicolas Sarkozy and Villepin, accused of plotting to bar his road to power. Judges will hear the last defence pleas with a verdict due early next year in the politically-explosive case, in which Villepin claims to be the victim of a personal vendetta by the French president.
  8. French former Prime minister Dominique de Villepin arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 23, 2009. France's trial of the decade ends Today after a month of sensational clashes between lawyers for Nicolas Sarkozy and Villepin, accused of plotting to bar his road to power. Judges will hear the last defence pleas with a verdict due early next year in the politically-explosive case, in which Villepin claims to be the victim of a personal vendetta by the French president.
  9. Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 7, 2009. Villepin is suspected of orchestrating a leak in 2004 of a faked list of account holders at the Clearstream bank, which included French president Nicolas Sarkozy's name. Two European defence company (EADS) executives, ex-vice president Jean-Louis Gergorin and research chief Imad Lahoud, also face charges along with journalist Denis Robert, who broke the story, and accountant Florian Bourges, accused of stealing the lists from Clearstream.
  10. Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 7, 2009. Villepin is suspected of orchestrating a leak in 2004 of a faked list of account holders at the Clearstream bank, which included French president Nicolas Sarkozy's name. Two European defence company (EADS) executives, ex-vice president Jean-Louis Gergorin and research chief Imad Lahoud, also face charges along with journalist Denis Robert, who broke the story, and accountant Florian Bourges, accused of stealing the lists from Clearstream.
  11. Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin (2ndR) arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 6, 2009. Villepin is suspected of orchestrating a leak in 2004 of a faked list of account holders at the Clearstream bank, which included French president Nicolas Sarkozy's name. Two European defence company (EADS) executives, ex-vice president Jean-Louis Gergorin and research chief Imad Lahoud, also face charges along with journalist Denis Robert, who broke the story, and accountant Florian Bourges, accused of stealing the lists from Clearstream.
  12. Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin arrives at Paris courthouse for the trial of the so-called 'Clearstream affair' on October 6, 2009. Villepin is suspected of orchestrating a leak in 2004 of a faked list of account holders at the Clearstream bank, which included French president Nicolas Sarkozy's name. Two European defence company (EADS) executives, ex-vice president Jean-Louis Gergorin and research chief Imad Lahoud, also face charges along with journalist Denis Robert, who broke the story, and accountant Florian Bourges, accused of stealing the lists from Clearstream.
  13. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  14. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  15. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) tastes a piece of cheese as he visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  16. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.

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