Nicolas Sarkozy held in influence investigation

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling.

Mr Sarkozy is being held at Nanterre, near Paris, in an unprecedented step against a former president.

Investigators are trying to establish whether Mr Sarkozy received inside information from a judge and attempted to influence others.

He denies any wrongdoing.

The BBC's Europe Editor Gavin Hewitt reports.