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Hello, and a warm welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service.
We're coming to you live from London.
I'm James Menendez.
Our top story today takes us to Paris
because there's been a dramatic conclusion to the trial of the former French President Nicolas Sacklesy on charges of trying to get money from the late Libyan leader Moama Gaddafi to finance an election campaign.
He's been found guilty of conspiring to elicit those funds and sentenced to five years in prison.
This is what he had to say after the verdict.
I will assume my responsibilities.
I will obey the judicial summons, and if they absolutely want me to sleep in prison,
I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high.
I'm innocent.
This injustice is a scandal.
I will not apologise for something I did not do.
Naturally, I will appeal.
I will probably have to appear in handcuffs before the Court of Appeal.
Those who hate me to this extent think they are humiliating me.
But what they have humiliated today is France.
Well, live to the court in our correspondent Hugh Scofield.
Hugh, first of all, the reaction when the sentence came.