Former France PM investigated in Sarkozy smear probe News
Former France PM investigated in Sarkozy smear probe

[JURIST] Investigators searched the offices of former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin [official profile, in French; JURIST news archive] on Friday as part of a probe into an alleged smear campaign conducted against Villepin political rival and now French President Nicolas Sarkozy [official profile; BBC profile]. In 2004, a magistrate received anonymous letters accusing Sarkozy of holding secret bank accounts linked to the corrupt sale of frigates, but the accusations turned out to be false. It has been alleged that Villepin may have been behind the letters and had known that Sarkozy did not own the accounts the letters claimed.

Judges searched Villepin's home on Thursday. In December 2006, Villepin was questioned [JURIST report] by judges for more than 17 hours in connection with an investigation into the smear. Villepin has denied any wrongdoing. Reuters 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.  

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