Category: news

A French junior minister accused of having sexually harassed staff of a town hall where he is mayor has resigned from the government.

A statement by the prime minister said Civil Service Minister Georges Tron had acted “in the general interest”, and noted he denied the allegations.

His resignation comes in the wake of the US arrest of ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn earlier this month.

He is charged with sexually assaulting a chamber maid in a New York hotel.

In the wake of the Strauss-Kahn case, there has been speculation internationally over whether France is prepared to re-examine its strict observance of privacy laws to report scandals affecting politicians.

A statement on Sunday by Prime Minister Francois Fillon’s office said Mr Tron’s resignation did not prejudice his case.

“The prime minister, together with the president of the republic, takes note of this decision, which does not in any way prejudice the next steps the justice system will take with regard to the complaints made against Georges Tron, the legitimacy of which he contests,” it said.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the allegations of harassment, brought by two former municipal employees in the town hall of the Paris suburb of Draveil.

The two women accuse Mr Tron of molesting them on the pretext of giving them foot massages, when they worked for him.

One said the therapy “degenerated quickly”, according to the Associated Press news agency.

“If the facts alleged are established, they could come under the headings of sexual aggression and rape.” said prosecutor Marie-Suzanne Le Queau on Wednesday.

One of the women, known only as Laura, told Le Parisien newspaper, said she was inspired to take action by the Strauss-Kahn case.

“When I see that a little chambermaid is capable of taking on Dominique Strauss-Kahn, I tell myself I do not have the right to stay silent,” she said.

“Other women may be suffering what I suffered. I have to help them. We have to break this code of silence.”

Mr Tron denies the allegations, which he has described as “incredible”.

He is counter-suing his accusers for slander.

“All of this is grotesque,” his lawyer Olivier Schnerb said. “It’s a succession of false assertions that are entirely defamatory.”

Mr Tron has also attempted to link the case to far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, hinting she was close to the lawyer representing the alleged victims.

Ms Le Pen responded by saying she would sue him for defamation.

“I will not let my reputation be called into question in order to save his,” she told French radio on Thursday.

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Investigations into leaks at the Ministry of Defence could lead to “a number” of prosecutions, the defence secretary has said.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Dr Liam Fox said he had no idea who was behind the leaking of letters and documents from his department.

But he did not discount the possibility that a cabinet colleague was involved.

He said the leaks meant the government was less likely “to put things on paper”, which meant less transparency.

The latest incident occurred last month when a letter from the defence secretary to Prime Minister David Cameron was leaked to a newspaper. In the letter, Dr Fox challenged plans to enshrine the UK’s aid budget in law.

Another private letter, in which Dr Fox raised concerns about proposed cuts in defence spending, was leaked last year ahead of the defence review. The defence secretary criticised the leak and ordered an inquiry.

He told Andrew Marr: “We are investigating very much at the present time and we have a number of potential court cases coming as a consequence.”

Asked whether he thought a fellow cabinet minister was behind the leaks, he said: “Well, you never know, and that’s the whole thing with leaks.

“They are unprofessional and they are unethical, and in being unwilling to stand up and argue the case publicly they are cowardly. It’s a culture I think that’s emerged in recent years and it’s hugely regrettable.”

Dr Fox said he had “no idea who leaks” or therefore what their motivations were but he said it meant less information might be comitted to paper.

“It also means that we are far more likely to discuss things face-to-face without necessarily other advisers being there,” he added.

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Huddersfield face Peterborough in the League One play-off final vying for promotion to the Championship.

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Alastair Cook falls early as England finally resume their innings against Sri Lanka after rain.

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