A defiant Nicolas Sarkozy told a Paris court on Thursday that allegations of illegal Libyan financing of his successful 2007 presidential bid were a "conspiracy" and that not a single cent of Libyan cash would ever be found in his campaign.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy vigorously denounced a “plot” he said was staged by “liars and crooks” at a trial over the alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the Libyan government led by former leader Muammar Gaddafi.