**Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has taken the stand in a Paris court, denying any role in a plot to discredit President Nicolas Sarkozy.**It is alleged that Mr de Villepin tried to manipulate a judicial investigation to hurt Mr Sarkozy’s chances of winning the 2007 presidential election.
In court, Mr de Villepin categorically denied sending forged documents to a French judge to implicate Mr Sarkozy.
He also said ex-President Jacques Chirac played no part in any smear bid.
Sensational trial
“The trial of the decade” - as it has been labelled by some French media - opened last Monday with Mr de Villepin accusing his arch-rival Mr Sarkozy of being determined to see him in the dock.
The case dates back five years, when both men were leading conservative contenders to succeed then-President Jacques Chirac.
At the time, Nicolas Sarkozy’s name appeared on a list of top politicians and businessmen sent to Mr de Villepin. It was alleged those named on the list had received bribes from international arms sales.
Mr de Villepin - who was foreign and then interior minister - is accused of ordering the documents to be sent to the investigating judge even though he knew them to be forged.
He categorically denied this in court.
He also testifyied that he “never had any presidential instructions from Jacques Chirac in this case”.
Mr de Villepin stands accused of “complicity in false accusation, complicity in using forgeries, receipt of stolen property and breach of trust”.
If found guilty, he could face up to five years in jail and a 45,000-euro (£41,000) fine.
About 20 witnesses are due to testify at the trial, which opened on 21 September and is likely to last about four weeks. A verdict is expected months later.