A French appeals court is due to rule on Dominique de Villepin's alleged involvement in a campaign to smear President Nicolas Sarkozy.
De Villepin was charged with plotting to discredit Sarkozy by failing to stop the so-called Clearstream corruption inquiry in 2004.
Prosecutors are attempting to reverse last year's verdict in which he was cleared of all charges over his role in the affair.
Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland reports from Paris.
