Two placed under investigation in French hostage-freeing mission

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2004

PARIS (AFP) — French authorities placed under investigation two assistants of a French lawmaker, as part of a probe into a failed freelance mission to free two reporters held hostage in Iraq, a source close to the investigation said.

The two men, Philippe Brett and Philippe Evanno, are being investigated for "intelligence with a foreign power or organisation or its agents, of a nature likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation, its foreign policy and the safeguard of its population," said the source.

Brett and Evanno, both aged 45, were arrested Monday but they are to remain free on bail pending the inquiry.

They have been forbidden from leaving the country or coming into contact with any other person implicated in the case.

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