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Former French official accused of slander

PARIS, July 27 (UPI) -- A formal investigation has been launched into slander charges against former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

De Villepin is accused of linking the name of rival politician Nicolas Sarkozy, who is now the country's president, with an illegal bank account in 2004, The Times of London reported Friday.

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The former official was questioned for nearly two hours by judges who placed him under investigation for "complicity to make false accusations." Recently revealed evidence suggests de Villepin actively encouraged the false information's leaking while Sarkozy was a rival for the presidential nomination, The Times said.

Judicial sources said the charges against de Villepin also include "receiving stolen goods, breach of trust and complicity to use forged documents."

However, de Villepin denies any wrongdoing.

"I am anxious to restate this morning that at no point did I ask for an investigation into political figures, and at no moment did I partake in any political machination," he said.

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