French court delays Chirac corruption trial until June

Paris - A Paris judge has delayed a historic trial in which former French president Jacques Chirac is accused of corruption, suspending proceedings until June because of a complaint by defense lawyers.

The decision threw an unexpected wrench in a case that took years to make it to court and threatened to expose the ugly underbelly of French politics as the country gears up for next year's presidential race. Chirac is the first French leader to face trial since World War II.

The trial, which opened on Monday, centers on Chirac's time as mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995, before he became president.