FORMER French president Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial today over allegedly illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of then Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gadaffi.

Mr Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, did not speak to the press on arrival at the Paris court. He has denied any wrongdoing.

He faces charges of passive corruption, illegal campaign financing, concealment of embezzlement of public funds and criminal association, punished by up to 10 years in prison.