Auvergne

France's Ruling Party Chief Quits

Former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe has resigned as leader of President Jacques Chirac’s ruling Union for a Popular Movement, paving the way for a party succession battle.

Juppe announced his resignation Friday, following his conviction earlier this year in a corruption case. He received a suspended prison sentence and was banned from public office for 10 years. The case is under appeal.

France’s powerful finance minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, is vying for the party leadership. He is to address party members later Friday.

Armstrong Takes Big Step Toward 6th Tour de France Crown

Lance Armstrong of the United States has taken a big step toward a record sixth Tour de France cycling crown by surging ahead of key rivals on the difficult 12th stage in the Pyrenees Mountains.

Armstrong finished just behind Friday’s stage winner Italian Ivan Basso, as both clocked 5:03:58 hours for the 198 kilometers. But fellow-American Tyler Hamilton, German Jan Ullrich and Spaniards Iban Mayo and Roberto Heras were among the pre-Tour contenders who lost time to the five-time champion.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, lost 2:30 minutes to Armstrong. Heras was 2:57 behind, and Hamilton gave up 3:27 minutes.

British Troops Lead France's Bastille Day Parade for First Time

British troops have led France’s annual Bastille Day parade for the first time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a treaty which ended centuries of hostility between the two countries.

Thousands lined Paris’ major boulevard, the Champs-Elysées, to witness the Wednesday parade led by members of British Queen Elizabeth’s royal guard and participate in Bastille Day festivities.

Bastille Day commemorates the day angry crowds stormed the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789, sparking the revolution against the French monarchy.

France re-establishes ties with Iraq

France announced Monday that it had re-established diplomatic relations with Iraq, severed under the leadership of the dictator Saddam Hussein.

In Paris, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said that France “wants to participate in the political and economic reconstruction of Iraq.”

Political analysts said that, given France’s longstanding opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, it was unlikely that it would suddenly win reconstruction contracts.

Australian Cyclist McEwen Wins 9th Stage of Tour de France

Australian cyclist Robbie McEwen has won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, but Frenchman Thomas Voeckler remains the overall leader as the race heads into the mountains.

McEwen finished the 160.5-kilometer ride between St. Leonard de Noblat and Guéret in 3:32:55, just ahead of Norway’s Thor Hushovd. Stuart O’Grady of Australia was third in the sprint finish.

Thomas Voeckler of France retained the overall lead, 2:53 ahead of O’Grady. Sandy Casar of France is third overall. Five-time champion Lance Armstrong of the United States is sixth overall (9:35 off the lead). Armstrong is trying to win the Tour for a record sixth time.

Swastika attack woman 'lied'

The alleged admission came shortly after the she was taken into custody – four days after the alleged assault on a train in the suburbs of Paris.

The 23-year-old woman said six men cut her clothes and drew swastikas on her body, accusing her of being Jewish.

The woman has been detained for falsely reporting a crime, state prosecutor Xavier Salvat told AFP news agency.

She could face up to six months in prison and a 7,500-euro ($9,200) fine if convicted.

The case has sparked widespread condemnation amid concern that racist and anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise in France.

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