Judges question French PM in anti-Sarkozy smear campaign probe News
Judges question French PM in anti-Sarkozy smear campaign probe

[JURIST] French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin [official website, in French; JURIST news archive] was questioned by judges for more than 17 hours Thursday and early Friday in connection with an investigation of an alleged smear campaign conducted against Villepin's political rival, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy [official profile; BBC profile]. It has been alleged that Villepin may have known that Sarkozy did not own secret bank accounts as the smear claimed. Villepin told reporters Friday morning he was glad to testify, calling himself "a victim of slander and lies" for having been tarred with responsibility for the smear.

Sarkozy is a prime candidate to replace French President Jacques Chirac in elections scheduled for spring 2007. Villepin, who has been politically damaged by this scandal and the debacle over a new youth labor law earlier {JURIST news archive] this year is not running. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.