The judicial authorities in Belgium have asked the European Commission to lift the legal immunity of the former French Commissioner, Edith Cresson.

A Commission spokesman said the request was linked to the case of a close friend Mrs Cresson employed as an advisor.

An EU report into the case criticised the former commissioner of favouritism in awarding contracts.

The report was later handed over to the Belgian authorities who opened their own investigation into the case.

The investigation into mismanagement led to the resignation of the commission of which Mrs Cresson was a member.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service