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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Angola arms trial opens in Paris | Angola arms trial opens in Paris |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Forty-two people have gone on trial in Paris accused of involvement in illegal arms sales to Angola in the 1990s. | Forty-two people have gone on trial in Paris accused of involvement in illegal arms sales to Angola in the 1990s. |
| The two key suspects - French and Israeli-Russian businessmen - deny organising the sale of $790m worth of weapons to war-torn Angola. | The two key suspects - French and Israeli-Russian businessmen - deny organising the sale of $790m worth of weapons to war-torn Angola. |
| One of the two, Arkady Gaydamak, is a candidate for mayor of Jerusalem. | |
| Other suspects, including the son of late French President Francois Mitterrand, are accused of "complicity in illegal trade" and taking bribes. | Other suspects, including the son of late French President Francois Mitterrand, are accused of "complicity in illegal trade" and taking bribes. |
| The "Angola-gate" case has strained ties between France and Angola. | The "Angola-gate" case has strained ties between France and Angola. |
| Angola had sent its lawyers to try to stop the trial, citing reasons of Angolan national security. | Angola had sent its lawyers to try to stop the trial, citing reasons of Angolan national security. |
| Up to 300,000 people died during a 27-year civil war between Angola's socialist government of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and the US-backed Unita rebels. The fighting ended in 2002. | Up to 300,000 people died during a 27-year civil war between Angola's socialist government of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and the US-backed Unita rebels. The fighting ended in 2002. |
| 'No reason' for trial | 'No reason' for trial |
| The prosecution alleges that French businessman Pierre Falcone and Israeli-Russian tycoon Mr Gaydamak shepherded the arms deals to the Angolan government in 1993-98, in breach of French law. | |
| The two men are accused of buying tanks, helicopters and artillery pieces and then selling them to Angola through a French-based firm and its subsidiary in Eastern Europe. | The two men are accused of buying tanks, helicopters and artillery pieces and then selling them to Angola through a French-based firm and its subsidiary in Eastern Europe. |
| The defence team says there is no reason to pursue the case in a French court as the weapons never crossed French territory. | The defence team says there is no reason to pursue the case in a French court as the weapons never crossed French territory. |
| It rejects the prosecution's arguments that any such deal required official authorisation. | It rejects the prosecution's arguments that any such deal required official authorisation. |
| If convicted, the two men face 10 years in prison. Mr Gaydamak is being tried in absentia. | If convicted, the two men face 10 years in prison. Mr Gaydamak is being tried in absentia. |
| The trial opened on Monday, the same day as Mr Gaydamak, owner of one of Israel's largest football clubs, formally registered his candidacy for the 11 November Jerusalem mayoral election. | |
| Other suspects, including Mr Mitterrand's son Jean-Christophe and former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua, are accused of accepting kickbacks - money or gifts - to facilitate the deals. | Other suspects, including Mr Mitterrand's son Jean-Christophe and former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua, are accused of accepting kickbacks - money or gifts - to facilitate the deals. |
| Both Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who advised his father on African affairs, and Mr Pasqua deny any wrongdoing. | Both Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, who advised his father on African affairs, and Mr Pasqua deny any wrongdoing. |
| The trial is expected to last until March. | The trial is expected to last until March. |