Sarkozy denies receiving 50 million pounds as illegal campaign funding from Gaddafi

Paris, Mar 13(ANI): French President Nicolas Sarkozy has denied claims that he had received 50 milion euros (42 million pounds) in an illegal campaign funding from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2007.

"If he (Gaddafi) had financed it, then I haven't been very grateful. Gaddafi, who is known for talking nonsense, even said that there were cheques. Well then the son should just go ahead and produce them then,"The Telegraph quoted Sarkozy,as saying.

A left-wing website Mediapart had earlier claimed to possess a document confirming allegations made against Sarkozy by Colonel Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam.

The "terms" for handing over the money were agreed in a meeting between Sarkozy and Gaddafi in Libya two years before Sarkozy's election and the October 6, 2005 meeting led to "campaign financing" of "NS [ Nicolas Sarkozy]" being "totally paid", it added.

Mediapart also claimed that the funds were laundered through bank accounts in Panama and Switzerland.

The Swiss account was opened in the name of the sister of Jean-Francois Cope, the leader of Sarkozy's ruling UMP party and one of the most active campaigners for his re-election.

The memo claimed that "ZT", believed to be an arms dealer called Ziad Takieddine, known to have close ties with several of Sarkozy's loyal aides, was "in charge of arrangements".

Takieddine declined to comment on the allegations. (ANI)