A French court has ruled that President Jacques Chirac cannot be investigated while in office in connection with an employment contracts scandal during his time as mayor of Paris.

The scandal involves allegations that some members of Mr Chirac's political party benefited from salaries paid for non-existent jobs as employees of the city.

The court ruled that French law barred prosecution of a president in office, but said that it was possible that Mr Chirac could be summoned once his presidential term ended.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service