The former Socialist Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Zhan Videnov, has appeared in court in Sofia, charged with libel and insult.

He is being sued for some nine-thousand dollars fifteen-million leva by a former owner of a private bank, Atanas Tilev, who now lives in Germany.

Mr Tilev says he was libelled in Mr Videnov's recent book, in which the former Prime Minister accused him of corrupt business practices.

Mr Videnov says he can prove his accusations are true.

Today's hearing was postponed until January so that lawyers can discuss a settlement proposed by the court.

Mr Tilev owned one of several banks that collapsed during the hyperinflationary slump in 1996 that also destroyed Mr Videnov's government.