The BBC's Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield explains how the "confrontation" works

The so-called "confrontation" brings together about 35 passers-by, paparazzi and relatives of the princesses and her friend Dodi Fayed.

Judge Hervé Stephan is hoping the group inquiry at the Palais de Justice will iron out inconsistencies in witnesses' account of the crash.

Al Fayed: blames paparazzi

Mohamed al-Fayed, whose son Dodi died in the accident, is listening to the evidence - as is Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd.

Afterwards, the Harrods owner accused Mrs Shand Kydd of "English snobbishness" because she refused to talk to him at the meeting.

Asked if they had talked, he said: "Who's she? I don't need to talk to her.

"She is pursuing her matters as I am pursuing mine. She lost her daughter and I lost my son.

"People like her are on another planet. They are snobbish. She is a snob. It is English snobbishness.

"If she thinks she belongs to the Royal Family and doesn't want to speak to ordinary people like me, that is up to her. I am just a working-class guy."

Witnesses to question each other's stories

Those present at the hearing were allowed to question one another and to differing accounts of the crash.

Members of Diana's family are at the hearing

Mr al-Fayed has consistently blamed the press photographers who were tailing Princess Diana and his son for causing the crash on August 31 in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel beneath the Seine.

When he arrived at the courtroom where confronted the paparazzi for the first time, he said: "I hope that God will find the truth for us."

His spokesman, Laurie Mayer, added: "It has been a terrible week for Mohamed."

"I think what people are forgetting is that here we have a grieving father who is basically trying to find out all he can about how his son died.

Mr Mayer said his client hoped to be able to ask questions after listening to the evidence given.

"He is here essentially to pose some questions which he has been wanting to pose for over nine months. This is the first time that he and the photographers have actually met face-to-face."

Verdict not due for months

Judge Stephan is understood to be using a trial format for the hearing.

Each witness is taking the stand to give their version of events before being questioned both by the judge and by other witnesses.

But the sole survivor of the crash is not attending. Bodyguard Trevor Rees Jones said previously he would not be going.

Romuald Rat: arrested

A verdict from Judge Stephan's inquiry is not expected for several months.

Ten people - nine photographers and a driver - could be prosecuted for their actions before and after the accident.

Seven photographers and a driver were arrested at the scene. Five were freed and two - Romuald Rat, of Gamma, and Christian Martinez, of the Angeli agency - were released on bail.

Even if they are not charged with manslaughter, they still could face charges under what is known as the "Good Samaritan" law, which requires witnesses to an accident to give all assistance necessary to the casualties.