French ex-President Sarkozy held over influence claims

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy remains in custody for questioning over alleged influence peddling.

Mr Sarkozy was detained near Paris on Tuesday morning in an unprecedented step against a former president.

He is being questioned about whether he sought inside information from a judge concerning an investigation into campaign funding.

In another development, his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, has been placed under formal investigation in the same case.

Mr Sarkozy is hoping to challenge again for the presidency in 2017 and the inquiry is seen as a blow to his hopes of returning to office.

Investigators are trying to find out whether Mr Sarkozy, 59, who was president from 2007 to 2012, had promised a prestigious role in Monaco to a high-ranking judge, Gilbert Azibert, in exchange for information about an investigation into alleged illegal campaign funding.

They are looking into claims that Mr Sarkozy was warned his phone was being bugged as part of the funding probe.

Mr Azibert, one of the most senior judges at the court of appeal, was called in for questioning on Monday as was another judge, Patrick Sassoust.