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The trial in Paris of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy for allegedly trying to bribe a magistrate in return for information about an investigation into his party finances was suspended shortly after it opened on Wednesday to allow a medical examination of one of the two other defendants.

David De Pas, coordinator of France's 12 anti-terrorism examining magistrates, said that it would be "better to know that these people are in the care of the judiciary" in France "than let them roam free".

Conservative presidential candidate François Fillon's campaign has met with a further setback after the Paris prosecutor's office decided on Friday to hand its preliminary investigation into his suspected misuse of public funds by employing his wife and children as parliamentary aides, for work allegedly never carried out, to a powerful judicial investigation. 

Abdeslam, thought to have played a key role in November 13th attacks, will be questioned for first time in France after transfer from Belgium.

Hours after extradition to France the 26-year-old was placed under formal investigation for murder and attempted murder of a terrorist nature.

Judge Marc Trévidic and his team will oversee exhumation of the monks' heads, buried at their monastery in Tibhirine, 80km south of Algiers.

Under the proposal, which is being considered by ministers, a court clerk could approve divorces in cases where both spouses agree on the split.

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been dramatically placed under formal investigation for allegedly abusing the mental frailty of billionaire L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt. It followed a second round of questioning by judges in Bordeaux investigating the Bettencourt affair, which involves claims of political corruption and abuse of power. The news has caused fury on the Right, however, who insist that it is a politically-motivated decision coming just days after the resignation of budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac, who is also facing an investigation.

Anti-terror judge tells media he is worried about the implication of large numbers of French Muslims heading to Syria to fight a holy war.