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Graft charges cloud future for Sarkozy

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France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with corruption and influence peddling, French prosecutors said on Wednesday, a dramatic move in a criminal probe that could wreck his hopes of a political comeback.

The decision came after Sarkozy was questioned for 15 hours, marking the first time a French ex-head of state had been taken into custody in a criminal investigation.

Sarkozy had been detained at a police station in a Paris suburb over a suspected attempt to illegally influence judicial proceedings in one of a raft of colorful corruption cases he is implicated in.

After the lengthy questioning, the former president was taken in early on Wednesday to appear before a judge, where he was"mis en examen" - put under formal investigation in what amounts to being charged, based on preliminary evidence – the prosecution said in a statement. He was then released while the investigation went ahead.

If convicted of the charges, Sarkozy could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

"This situation is serious and the charges are serious ... and furthermore they concern senior magistrates, a lawyer and a former president," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday.

"The most important thing is for the judicial system to be able to work in a fully independent manner and peacefully and that the presumption of innocence is respected," Valls said on BFM television.