Belgium's highest court has found the former Secretary General of Nato, Willy Claes, guilty of corruption.

The charges relate to when he was economics minister in the Belgian government ten years ago.

The court ruled that he knew that money was being paid into socialist party funds in exchange for government contracts.

The court is also due to rule today on the fate of eleven other defendants, including two other former ministers and the French industrialist, Serge Dassault.

Mr Dassault is accused of arranging millions of dollars in bribes to secure the contracts for the helicopter manufacturer, Agusta, of Italy and Dassault Electronique, of FranceThe prosecution has asked for suspended sentences, a ban from politics and a fine.