Jon Henley in Paris Tuesday September 23, 2003 The Guardian
A key suspect in a French corruption case was confirmed yesterday as Luanda's ambassador to Unesco, securing him an Angolan diplomatic passport and immunity from prosecution. The appointment allows the suspect, Pierre Falcone, who is at the centre of an arms trafficking scandal, to travel freely despite a judicial ban on leaving France.
The foreign ministry said it was powerless to stop the "regrettable" appointment.
The scandal has seen Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, son of the late president, jailed on suspicion of arms trafficking and money laundering before being given bail. He remains under formal investigation - one step short of being charged.
The investigating magistrates are looking into the illicit sale of £350m of Russian arms to Angola in 1993-94. A lawyer for Mr Falcone said his client did not intend to dodge French justice and "would of course obey all summonses from the judges".
Clinton just appeared at the Labour convention this week talking about the unique bond between the UK and the US which got me to wondering just how much of this is propoganda (ecspecially it was a Dem. speaking on behalf of a repub.)