Dominique de Villepin, the former French prime minister, has been ordered to stand trial for his role in an alleged plot to smear Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president.
Judges signed the order late on Tuesday, requiring de Villepin to appear before the court over what sources close to the trail said was alleged “complicity in libel”.

French ex-Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin will stand trial in connection with a smear campaign against President Nicholas Sarkozy, officials say.
Mr de Villepin is suspected of targeting Mr Sarkozy when the pair were seen as presidential rivals in 2004.
Mr de Villepin has already been questioned over the case but has always denied spreading false money laundering allegations against Mr Sarkozy.